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/ OLDiERS OF The Union : ) 

It is' with the deepest pleasure that the 
author of Pauline of the Potomac, dedicates to you the follow- 
ing narrative of a lovely and heroic maiden, who, from the very com- 
mencement of the war, has nobly devoted herself to the holy cause 
m which you ^re also engaged. 

Kneeling by the death-bed of her father, she solemnly vowed, 
before Heaven, to espouse the bright flag of American Freedom. 
How well she kept her vow no proof beyond her glorious achieve- 
ments, both under General McClellan and General Grant, is needed. 
The manner in which the facts of the narrative came into the hands 
of the author the annexed letter will show. 



Washington, Jan. 15th., 1864. 

To Wesley Bradshaw, Esq., 

Philadelphia, Pa., 

Dear Sir : Yours of Jan- 
uary 1st came duly to hand. I have been very busy night and day 
in my department since then ; so much so, indeed, that I feared I 
would not be able to attend to the matter to which you referred. 
But I am happy to state to you that I have at last been enabled to 
accomplish the desired object, and I herewith send you a collection 
of papers from which you can elicit all the facts you need. 

Maud, or rather Pauline, is a glorious girl, and most decidedly the 
Evil Genius of the Rebel rulers. You cannot laud her too highlyj 
The Army, the Navy, the Government, and indeed the whole nation, 
owe her an overwhelming debt of gratitude. 

Neither Mr. Lincoln, nor General Grant, could have any objection 
whatever. 

Any other information you may need at any time while you are 
writing the narrative, I will obtain for you — if not contraband — with 
the utmost pleasure. 


Yours, Truly, 

A — ;d — N- 


\ t.'O' 




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MAUD OF TEE MISSISSIPPI. 


A CX)MP ANION TO 


PAULINE OF THE POTOMAC. 

BY WESLEY BRADSHAW, 

9 

Author of “Pauline of the Potomac,” “ The i Volunteers’ Roll of Honor,” “General 
Corcoran’s Captivity,” “General McClellan’s Dream,’* 

“The Picket Slayer,” 4&c., <fco. 


A THRILLING NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES 

OF 

MISS PAULINE D’ESTRAYE, 

A YOUNa AND BEAUTIFUL FRENCH LADY, 

• 

WHO, AFTER PERFORMING THE MOST HEROIC DEEDS IN VIRGINIA, IN BEHALF 
OF THE UNION, WAS SENT OFFICIALLY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE 
MISSISSIPPI, WHERE SHE RENDERED HERSELF FOR 
EVER FAMOUS BY HER CONSPICUOUS 
DARING AND BRAVERY 
-• DURING 

TfiE VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN 

UJTDBK 

MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT. 


\ 





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' PHILADELPHIA : 

PUBLISHED BY C. W. ALEXANDER k CO. 

123 South Third Street. 

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1863, by C. W. Alexander & Co., 
in the Clerk’s office of the District Court of the United States, in and for the Eastern 
Distriot of PennsylYanifu 





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MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI 


0 

CHAPTER I, 

WHO MAUD MELVILLE WAS. 

The last sunset of the year 1862 shed its rays almost promisingly 
upon the cause of the unholy Rebellion. Several very serious re- 
pulses and disasters had befallen the armies of the Union, which, 
however, so far from discouraging the loyal States, only determined 
them to still more tremendous exertions. 

At the time of which we write, Vicksburg, Mississippi, the door- > 
way to the granaries of the Confederacy, was a point that had awa- 
kened the most intense interest and anxiety, not alone in our own. 
country, but also in Europe. In fact so much importance began tu 
be attached to the speedy capture of this stronghold, that General 
U. S. Grant, after several of his most able assistants had failed in 
the work, went thither to try his own skill. The result was pro- 
claimed to the world on the next natal day of the Republic, amidst 
the joyous salvos of artillery that pealed heavenward from the 
blood-stained heights of Gettysburg. Heroes of the West, heroes of 
the East, well done ! Vicksburg ! Gettysburg ! twin victories that 
forced Rebellion back exhausted to its lair, and wrung from astoun- 
ded Europe a justice that she would otherwise have withheld. 

The Vicksburg campaign will remain for all time to come a study 
for military minds.' Splendid in its occasional failures, and magnifi- 
cent in its final success, it reflects the highest credit upon its origina- 
tor, Major General Ulysses S. Grant. Yet his glory is shared with 
others, who, though not brought continually to the public eye, never- 
the-less sustained most important roles in the drama of which he was 
the chief actor. 


(2i) 


22 


MAUD OP THE MISSISSIPPI: 


One evening. as the General sat musing over the last report that 
had been sent to him by General McClernand, and was turning the 
subject over in his mind, a young lady was announced on important 
business. 

“ Maud Melville ! he exclaimed, glancing at the neat chirography 
of the delicate card that was placed in his hand by the orderly, 
“well, well. I’ll see her, pass her in.” 

A few moments later the fair visitor entered the room in which 
Grant sat. The latter immediately rose, and, stepping forward, 
placed a chair for the lady, opening the conversation as he did so, 
with that dignity and graceful ease which characterize a well bred 
gentleman. 

“I have just arrived from A^shington, General,” said Maud, in 
answer to a question by Grant, “and I beg of you to glance at these 
letters ? They will better explain the object of my coming than I 
can do orally.” 

With these words the speaker drew forth and placed in the hand 
•f the General, two envelopes, one of which was stamped “ 
tial Mansion'' and the other State Department," 

The appearance and address of his beautiful and accomplished 
visitor, had at the very first forcibly struck the, General, and his in- 
terest was much deepened as his eye rested upon the words we have 
recorded and also the directions of the envelopes, the first in the 
plain, heavy hand of the President, and the second evidently penned 
by the master diplomatist^ of America. 

Seating himself. Grant opened and attentively perused each 
letter. 

“Really, Miss D’Estraye, excuse me. Miss Melville,” said the Gen- 
eral, as he concluded his reading, I know not whether to acknowledge 
myself more surprised at your gallant achievements during General 
McClellan’s campaign, or more delighted at your present desire to 
serve the Union cause in the future operations against Viokburg. 
The greatest obstacle we have t(f surmount is the lack of information 
as to the real condition and movements of the enemy. I have as yet 
come across no spy nor scout whose reports could be fully relied oh. 
But, from the high enconiums passed on you by the President and 
Mr. Seward, I am led to entertain the highest expectations of yourself. 

“ I hope,” replied Maud “ that neither Mr. Lincoln nor Mr. Seward 
has said aught which might lead you. General, to expect too much 
from me.” 

“ Neither of them, Miss Melville, would write one whit beyond the 
truth. But, aside from that, I would ask no better recommendation 


OR, GEN. grant’s SPY. 


23 


of your sterling abilities, than your own deeds in the Eastern De- 
partment. The narative thereof, that was published a short time 
since, approached so nearly a romance that, but for the actual facts 
recorded therein, the reader might easily have believed himself 
perusing one.” 

“You flatter me, General,” said*Maud with a modest smile. 

“ By no means. Miss Melville,” answered Grant, “ I speak but the 
simple truth. Yqur capture of the Rebel spy, Dallett, and aftei^ward 
of the Signal Code of the Confederate Army, were, alone, two acts, 
no praise of which could approach flattery. They were worth to the 
Union a hundred thousand men both East and West. But tell me,” 
added the speaker, as though a half unpleasant thought had come 
into his mind at the moment, “ are you as well acquainted with the 
Vicksburg region of country as you are with that of the Atlantic 
States !” 

There came with the close of this question an unmjstakable trace 
of anxiety upon Grant’s features, which, however, passed instantly 
away as Maud replied : 

“If anything, General, I am better acquainted with it thaai with 
any other portion of the country. I passed several years of my life 
there.” 

“ And have you no fear. Miss Melville ? Why, the most ample 
promises of reward have failed to induce the most daring of my scouts 
or spies to penetrate into the city itself, to ascertain the exact strength 
of the post, and what means there are for its reinforcement.” 

“In the performance of my duty. General, toward my adopted 
country, I fear nothing. Thus far God has vouchsafed to me His care 
and protection, and He will do the same in the future, unless, for some 
wise end. He destines me to fall. In Him do I trust ; let Him do as 
pleaseth Him good.” 

There was a deep piety in the manner of this reply, that awakened 
in General Grant’s breast a feeling of veneration for his fair com- 
panion, and he silently regarded her for several moments, with increas- 
ing admiration. 

She was the first to break the silence. 

“ General,” said she, “ are you revolving new designs in your mind 
for reaching the city in the rear from the Northeast?” 

Grant started. Only half an hour j)revious he had been studying 
three or four difierent topographical maps to ascertain all the informa- 
tion he could in regard to the network of rivers and bayous that lay 
between Yazoo Pass and Vicksburg. And he felt very confident of 
the success of at least two routes thus presented. 


24 


MATTD OF THE MISSISSIPPI! 


Why do you ask that question, Miss Melville V inquired the 
General with a smile. 

‘‘ Because,” replied Maud, promptly, “ it would, from the number 
of its rivers, seem to promise certain success; but, from what I 
know of the country in that direction, I feel certain that to got 
through it with success would be an impossibility.”* 

‘‘Well,” said Grant, “Vicksburg must be taken, whether it is 
moved upon from the Northeast, or all the points of the compass at 
once. But tell me,” he continued, turning the conversation into 
another channel — for, like all good Generals, he cared not to talk of 
his plans, especially to a woman — “ is the reason given here in the 
President’s letter, the full one for your changing your name from 
Pauline D’Estraye to Maud Melville ?”t 

“ It is. General,” rejoined Maud 

“And tell me also,” resumed Grant, “by whose advice did you 
assume the name of Maud ? I merely wish to see if I did not guess 
rightly.” 

“Mr. Lincoln’s,” answered Maud smiling. 

“And in return,” continued Grant, “I think I can tell you whi/ 
he suggested that name. Was it not because Maud of the Blissis' 
9ip]pif would make a very beautiful and companionable title to 
“ Pauline of The PotomacV' 

“Exactly the reason. General,” rejoined Maud Melville — for by 
this fictitious name we must hereafter call our heroine. And she 
burst into a merry laugh, in which, despite the weight of official care 
upon his mind, the General heartily joined. 

“ Well, Miss Melville,’' said he, at last, “ if, as ‘ Maud of the Mis- 
sissippi,’ you render to our holy cause services as valuable as you did 
under the title of ‘Pauline of The Potomac,’ you will earn not only 
the gratitude but also the love of the nation.” 

“ Greater reward could no mortal ask. General !” answered Maud, 
with unafi*ected earnestness. 

“ One more question. Miss Melville,” said Grant, speaking in tones 
of the kindest suavity. “ The President and Mr.. Seward both refer 
in their letters to a sad bereavement that has befallen you. May I 
ask the nature thereof? ” 

No tear came to the beautiful eyes of Maud, but the tremor of a 
deeper grief than bids tears to flow, was on her voice as she rejoined: 

*A fact that the indomitable hero of the Mississippi subsequently proved to be 
correct after the most Herculean exertions. 

fAs the MMS. furnished the author does not give this reason alluded to by General 
Grant, we suppose that its publication, even at this date, is contraband. 


OS, QKN. grant’s SPY. 


25 


“ There was a dear one, General, whom chance threw in my way 
whilst a prisoner in the South. Like myself he had been captured 
while serving his country. Together we suffered, together we escaped, 
and together we had promised ourselves to spend a happy future. 
But Providence ordained otherwise. He had been wounded ; I nursed 
him with the tenderest care, and, when he became strong enough to 
bear his sword, I sent him, with my blessing, to join battle once more 
with the foe. He went forth with high resolve and buoyant hopes, 
and the next I learned of him was, that his were among the thousand 
glassy eyes that stared skyward on the ramparts of Fredericksburg. 
My heart went out to him then, and now lies with his mouldering form 
in the grave of his glory and honor. The tomb. General, now holds 
all that was dear to me. Henceforth, to the land of my adoption 
shall I devote myself.” 

The lovely speaker bowed her head upon her clasped hands as she 
ended, and remained in silence for a little space ; a silence which the 
touched feelings of the noble soldier would not permit him to interrupt. 

Well, General,” at last resumed Maud, looking up, I am here 
for action. I am ready to set forth on any mission you may wish. 
You spoke awhile ago of having been unable to ascertain anything 
about the interior of Vicksburg.” 

“ And are you willing to hazard the accomplishment of my wishes 
in regard to that city?” asked General Grant, his emotions divided 
by surprise and delight. 

“I am most willing to do so, General,” rejoined Maud, promptly. 

“ Then report to me. Miss Melville, at these headquarters to-morrow 
morning, at eight o’clock precisely,” said Grant, drawing forth and 
consulting his watch as he spoke. 

Is there a ship or boat builder near here, or at any convenient 
point on the Mississippi, General?” inquired Maud, as she arose to 
take her departure. 

Once more was Grant surprised. 

“ A ship or boat builder !” reiterated he, “ yes. Miss Melville, 
there are several on the Mississippi ; but pray, why do you ask the 
question ?” 

“ Because, General, I shall, in order to reach Vicksburg, pass its 
batteries, and, after landing at a point above Warrenton or Grand 
Gulf, thence make my way whither I choose.” 

‘‘Pass the batteries!” exclaimed the soldier, astounded, “and in 
a frail boat ! Why, my own iron clads would be riddled in ten 
minutes if they attempted that feat.” 


26 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


“Nevertheless, Greneral, “rejoined Maud, I will accomplish it in 
safety. My boat shall be constructed on my own plan, and I hav€j 
brought with m^ a peculiar sail of grey silk, that will carry me from 
Memphis to New Orleans if need be. However, I will explain more 
fully to you in the morning. General. Good evening.” 

“ Good evening, Miss Melville.” 

This sudden parting between General Grant and his fair compan- 
ion was caused by the entrance of two staff officers, who, from the 
disorder of their dress, which was mud from top to bottom, evidently 
came on important, official business. 


CHAPTER II. 

DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI. 

On the morning succeeding the interview that our heroine had with 
General Grant, the former reported punctually at the headquarters 
of the latter at eight o’clock. So punctually, in fact, that the seventh 
stroke of the town bell was just quivering as she made her courtesey 
to the commander of the Mississippi campaign. 

“ Good morning, good morning. Miss Melville,” said General Grant, 
in his most pleasant manner, as, rising from his chair, he stepped 
forward to greet his fair visitor, “ I see the heavy rain does not in- 
terfere with your habit of military promptness.” 

“Ah, no. General,” answered Maud, “ I know the value of minutes 
in military movements.” 

“Ah! Miss Melville,” quickly rejoined Grant, “would to Heaven 
our commanders could all be taught that important lesson. But,” 
added the speaker, abruptly, “ let us get to business.” 

He drew up two chairs to a table, and striking a bell, brought by 
the summons an orderly into his presence. 

“Orderly!” commanded he, in positive tones, “I do not wish to 
be interrupted. Refuse admittance to everybody except Captain 
Billings, should he wish to see me.” 

The sergeant touched his cap, bowed, and withdrew to instruct the 
guard as to his duty. 

“ Now, then. Miss Melville,” continued General Grant, addressing 
his beautiful companion, “ the first matter in hand, I believe, is that 
boat, concerning which you spoke last night.” 


OR, GiJN. Grant’s 


27 


I have brought the plan thereof with me, General,’^ replied Maud, 
seating herself in the nearest of the two chairs, and spreading upon 
the table a large sheet of paper before Grant. 

The latter unfolded the sheet, and inspected, with fixed and silenl* 
attention, one or two drawings in section and profile that were penned 
upon it. 

‘‘ Well, Miss Maud !” exclaimed the General, after his inspection, 
“I think I see perfectly well the principle, but I must ask of you an 
explanation of one or two minor points.” 

With this remark. Grant pushed the paper toward Maud, who forth- 
with entered upon a full detail of both the principle and application. 

The only facts, however, that may at this time be given to the public 
are, that the boat proposed by Maud was so ingeniously constructed 
that it could, in five minutes, be lapped, or rather rolled into one 
compact and almost solid piece. In this shape it could be sunk clGse 
in to shore, and remain uninjured by the action of the water for a 
long time. It was also so light that Maud herself, though by no 
means powerful, could, with some little exertion, transport it from the 
river to any spot ashore that she chose. The sail was triangular in 
shape, and had been selected by our heroine of a smoky-grey silk, of 
the best yet lightest texture. The peculiarity of the color rendered 
it invisible, even on a starlit night, at a comparatively short distance, 
and as the boat was to be painted the same hue as the sail, detection 
even by the sharpest sighted sentinel would be next to impossible. 

General Grant was pleased, nay more, he was delighted with the 
ingenious invention, and requested Maud, when she had finished her 
explanations in regard to it, to inform him who the author of it was. 

“ His name,” rejoined she, ‘‘ was Jerome Antonelli, General. He 
was a magician by profession, and born in the city of Rome. In one 
of those spasmodic efforts at independence that Italy is continually 
making, Antonelli rendered the liberal party the most valuable aid in 
the capacity of a spy. Such a position suited his daring and inven- 
tive mind. This peculiar boat, the plans of which you have just exa- 
mined, was conceived and made by himself. 

‘‘ Lack of unity in action soon brought the yoke back on Italy’s neck, 
and Antonelli, with others, fled to France. 

“ There my father had it in his power to assist him, for which he 
was extremely grateful. His visits to my father’s house were often, 
and his greatest delight was to explain to me the modus operandi of 
his various performances in magic. Several times he described to me 
this peculiar boat, but never dreaming that I, a child of luxury and 
wealth, should ever have use for one, I forgot his descriptions. While 


28 


MAUD OP THB MISSISSIPPI: 


serving tlie Union cause in Virginia I often regretted my inattention, 
and resolved, if possible, to recall Antonelli’s description. But in 
vain, until a short time since, when the whole affair flashed upon me 
one morning, just after I had risen for the day.** 

“ It is really a wonderful invention. Miss Melville,** said G-eneral 
Grant, once more examining the drawings. “And,** added he, with 
a meaning smile, “ I will guarantee that you will find use for its best 
qualities if you run the batteries at Vicksburg.** 

“And I will in turn guarantee. General,** rejoined Maud, “that it 
will not fail me.** 

“Well, Miss Melville, when will you be ready to set out for Vicks- 
burg ?’* 

“ The moment I have this boat finished.** 

“ There is an order, then, to Captain R , at Memphis. And, 

as you will of course have expenses, here is cash to meet them.’* 

Maud took the order that General Grant wrote, but refused the 
roll of Treasury notes with the words : 

“ You must excuse me, General, but I bear my own expenses. I 
have never yet received from the Government a dollar, and so long 
as the remnant of my own fortune which is outside the boundaries of 
the rebellion lasts, so long will I continue to receive nothing. I am 
thoroughly convinced that what I do is only my duty.’’ 

General Grant was still more astonished at his fair companion than 
he had yet been, and he failed not to compliment her upon her dis- 
interested patriotism. 

“ Well now,” said he, finally, “ I wish, Miss Melville, to ascertain, 
first, what roads could be used most effectually in approaching Vicks- 
burg from the rear, and also, more particularly, the exact condition 
of the rebel naval affairs on the Yazoo river. I have received infor- 
mation, on which, however, I cannot fully depend, that there has latelv 
arrived at Yazoo city an immense amount of coal and iron, and that 
several confederate rams are almost ready for an attack upon oua 
fleet.** 

“All of which. General,** answered Maud, “I think I shall not 
experience much difficulty in finding out.** 

“ I hope, indeed, you will not. Miss Melville ; but I feel it my im- 
perative duty to assure you the enemy is fully on the alert.** 

“Which will only render me the more cautious. General,’* said 
Maud, smilingly, in reply to Grant’s remark. 

In less than an hour after exchanging farewells with the hero of 
the Mississippi, our dauntless, beautiful heroine was on her way ^ 
see Captain R of Memphis. That gallant and assiduous officer, 


OR, GEN. grant’s SPY. 


29 


with the assistance of a trustworthy workman, speedily constructed 
the little vessel in which the fair adventurer was to set out on her 
perilous mission. 

Captain R , on the night selected by Maud for her start, es- 

corted her down to the river, and assisted her to open and fasten the 
light vessel in which she was so fearlessly about to brave the waves 
of the Mississippi. The silken sail was set, the rudder hung, and» 
stepping from the shore, our heroine seated herself, seized the tiller 
in one hand and the boom line in the other. 

“ Farewell, Captain R ,” she exclaimed in a firm, clear voice 

to her companion, who was so surprised — foiv.he had until now felt 
sure that Maud would forego her attempt at the last moment — that 
he actually stammered out his reply. 

Caught by the freshening breeze the fairy craft shot from the bank, 
and almost instantly disappeared. Like a disturbed bird it seemed 

to start from the rippling water close at Captain R 's feet, and 

skim along the top of the water out into the gloom of mid-river. 

“Well,” muttered the soldier, after straining his eyes to their 
utmost strength, “those French girls, or at least that particular one, 
beats the very devil himself! She’s brave enough ; but if her bravery 
keeps her from the bottom of the Mississippi till daylight, I’m out of 
my reckoning 1” 

The gallant soldier was the more induced to this opinion by Maud’s 
refusal to take passage on one of the gunboats down to Milliken’s 
Bend, just above Vicksburg, on the opposite side of the river. She 
had her own reasons, however, for the course she pursued, though she 
did not impart them to the Captain. 

To many a mind that counts itself heroic the unparalleled act of 
Maud Melville in thus committing herself at night to the mercy of 
the mighty river, would appear actually appalling. Yet, such was 
the reliance of the lovely girl upon the security of her little craft, 
that the farther it sped from the shore the more confident did she be- 
come in its powers. And in triith we must ajid that Maud’s confi- 
dence was not misplaced, for each turbid wave was met and skimmed 
over by the fairy vessel with the graceful ease of a swallow. 

After tacking once or twice, and manceuvering about somewhat, our 
heroine at last turned her face down stream upon her long journey 
of peril. She accomplished many miles ere day began to dawn when, 
drawing into a protected oove, she landed, and prepared a frugal but 
sufficient meal from provisions that she had taken good care to bring 
•long with her. 


30 


MAUD OF THE IHSSISSIPPI: 


This over, she gathered branches of trees from the forest, and 
covered her boat in such a manner as to give it the appearance of 
the leafy portion of a floating tree. Beneath these she concealed 
herself with care, and once more floated away in the direction of 
Yicksburg. So complete was the disguise, that, although during 
the course of the day she passed and was overtaken by several ves- 
sels, she was undiscovered. As soon as night fell, she threw off the 
branches, and hoisting the silken sail, hurried forward before a 
stronger wind than there had been the previous night. 

Though warmly clad, Maud suffered considerably with the cold, 
and would, doubtless, have been seriously inconvenienced thereby, 
had it not been for her precautions. 

In due time, and without the slightest mishap or incident of any 
sort,, the lovely adventuress reached Milliken’s Bend. Here she 
made a few final preparations, left a message for General Grant, and 
set forward to view the frowning batteries whose grim cannon lay in 
wait for the Union fleet. 

As she had predicted to the General, she had no difficulty what- 
ever in making the passage, and on the succeeding morning had left 
the rebel stronghold a good distance behind her. She landed at a 
point midway between Grand Gulf and Warrenton, Mississippi, 
where she spent some time in sinking her boat, and arranging mat- 
ters for her farther journey to the doomed but defiant city of Yicks- 
burg. All these affairs were at last fixed, and Maud set forth, after 
breathing a fervent prayer to Him in whom she always trusted for 
help. 


CHAPTBK III. 

A ^WOULD-BE CAPTOR. 

In the town of Warrenton, Maud had in former times been inti- 
mately acquainted with a family by the name of Corwin. It had 
been a long, long time since she had seen any of them, and as she 
neared the place in which they resided, or, at least, where they had 
formerly resided, the question arose , in her mind whether or not 
their friendship was changed with the times. If they held the doc- 
trine of secession, and should learn that she was serving the cause 
of the old Union, her arrest, conviction, and execution as a spy 












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M celebrated Union Spy, Maiul Melville, betUr 

known M Mi 8« pAvniXB D Bstbatb^ and wm drawn epeeialljr for us by EowelL 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 

were events tliat would follow each other with a certain and terribly 
speedy sequence. 

While revolving this exceedingly delicate point in her mind, 
Maud was nearing the town, and had just passed into a deep wood 
to the Southward thereof, when her progress was stayed by the 
sound of voicea In a moment her caution was doubled, and never 
did Indian scout approach a place or victim with such adroitness or 
so silently as she. A bunch of dry and tangled branches lay in the 
only path she could use, and this with the utmost patience and care 
she removed, stick by stick and twig by twig. At the very moment, 
however, that the last twig had been laid softly on one side of the 
path, a small bird sprang from a bush just in front, uttering a chirrup 
of alarm, and taking its flight directly over the spot from which the 
voices came. The next instant the latter were hushed, and a silence 
ensued almost as profound as that of the tomb. Maud crouched 
down to the very earth, and instinctively clapped her hand to her 
heart, fearful that its th robbings might discover her to the strangers. 
She lost not, however, a whit of her presence of mind ; but, drawing 
a revolver, watched keenly for the presence of an enemy. . As she 
did so, she espied, between the branches of a thick bush that shel- 
tered her, a rough skin cap, such as is generally worn by hunters, 
rising stealthily above another bush a few paces distant. Then she 
saw a strip of brown, furrowed forehead come up beneath the cap,, 
then a pair of piercing, black eyes, then a large, aquiline nose, and two 
patches of sunburnt Cheeks, furrowed like the strip of forehead, and 
lost, like the mouth and chin, in a huge black beard. Then came a 
pair of brawny, gray-clad shoulders, and the vignette was complete. 
The whole countenance had risen regularly and slowly as a moulded 
vapor, and now, with caution and ferocity mingled in its expression,, 
stood scanning the forest in the direction of herself. Maud thought, 
herself discovered; but after a short suspense, the head. disappeared 
below the top of the bush that concealed the body,, and the voices 
immediately recommenced the conversation that the bird’s alarm had. 
so suddenly silenced. 

Maud mentally offered a prayer of thanks that discretion forbade 
her lips to utter aloud, and within, a few minutes she was so close to 
the spot where the objects of her curiosity were, that every word of 
what they said was distinctly audible. So dense was the , wall of 
underbrush that separated her and them, however, that she could 
not obtain even a glimpse of them, and there was too much risk 
attending an effort to part the screening foliage. 

''Tell you what, boys,” said one of the unseen speakers, “that 


40 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


there Grant ’s a team, and that there Porter’s another team; and if 
the pair of ’em don’t show Jeff Davis where his mule* is, I’m not a 
rebel, that’s all I” 

Ah ! don’t you worry ’bout that ’ere. Bill,” said a rough, brutal 
voice; Uncle Jeff aint no Swope, I want yer to know; an’ if that 

d d Abe Lincoln, or Grant, or Porter, or anybody else, kin head 

him into a narrer lane, an’ keep him there, yer may confiscate me an’ 
be durned ; that there’s my opine, an’ that there’s my say. Another 
thing, too, I want yer to know,” quickly continued the speaker, as 
though wishing to add to his former remark ere any of his com- 
panions said anything, Jeff Davis, besides a-bein’ a devilish smart 
man naturally, studied all this here bisness out many and many a 
year that’s gone. He knows the trails I And the place where he’ll 
keep his mule all safe from Grant or Porter ’ll be in Washington 
itself. That’s his play, and it gives him a winnin’ ace I” 

Well now, Jake, that depends on circumstances, after all’s said 
and done,” said a third voice. 

*‘How does it?” asked two or three in unison. 

“ Why,” was the reply, suppose something or other turns up to 
set aside a part of his plans ; for instance, suppose that the army 
gets dissatisfied, and won’t stick to him ; or one of the States, for 
instance North Carolina or Louisiana, backs out of the Confederacy, 
— what then ?” 

What then?” sneeringly rejoined the rough, brutal voice, what 
then? Why Jeff ’ll show ''em what then! I tell yer he’s got all 
them ’ere little lanes an’ dodgin’ alleys laid out aforehand.” 

^^Well, well, comrades, do not let us waste time over what may 
never happen. But let us settle this adventure of our own. A few 
such projects carefully and successfully carried out, are worth half a 
dozen victories in which we lose as many men as the Yankees.” 

This voice, which seemed somewhat familiar to Maud, spoke with 
authority, and a moment later she heard the group moving away 
through the bushes toward a bridle path that led to the town. To 
follow immediately would be perhaps to discover herself to the plot- 
ters ; and what the result would be, needed not an imagination as 
strong as her own to picture. However, as the retreating sounds 
grew more and more indistinct, our heroine could not repress her 
desire to endeavor to at least catch a glimpse of the party. She 


•‘Where’s your mule?” Is a popular expression in the South-west, in regard to 
any undertaking or difficulty, — one of those half undefiuable colloquial expressions 
which are strong at the expense of elegance. 


OE, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


41 


therefore moved witli hasty but cautious steps to a point where she 
could observe her foes without being seen herself. There were four 
of them, and in the tall, heavily -built figure of the foremost she im- 
mediately recognized Malcolm Corwin, the eldest son of Mrs. Corwin. 

Ah, traitor I” murmured the lovely and anxious watcher, Pro- 
vidence has pointed you out to me, and I will keep you constantly 
in view.” 

As though, however, to prove the mistake she had made, the four • 
men all suddenly disappeared behind a house that stood on the im- 
mediate outskirts of the town. 

To follow,” soliloquized Maud, unconsciously, in her eagerness, 

is to run a risk almost certain of capture ; to remain where I am 
is as certainly to lose sight of the villains ; and to lose sight of them, 

I am sure, will be to render myself incapable of frustrating some 
plot of evil against the cause of the Union.” 

I myself will render you incapable of doing that, my patriotic 
love!” exclaimed a bitter, hissing voice at this juncture. 

Maud experienced, as the ominous sounds of that solitary human 
voice fell upon her ears, that utter prostration of heart and soul, 
that paralyzing fear which sudden peril often brings upon the 
bravest. Only for an instant, however, was she the victim of this 
terror, for in a moment more she turned sharply round in the direc- 
tion of the voice, 

A tall, brawny man stood almost within reach of her ; so close, in 
fact, that she instinctively sprang back a pace. The stranger’s long, 
black beard, and rough, broad-brimmed hat, did not prevent her 
recognizing the intruder as Malcolm Corwin. She had made a mis- 
take in supposing that the leader of the group of which she had just 
lost sight was he. Doubtless the strong expectation of seeing some 
one of the Corwins at or about Warrenton had induced her to the 
erroneous belief, especially as one of the voices she had heard in 
converse seemed familiar to her. Though her ears had deceived her, 
her eyes did not, for it was certainly Malcolm Corwin who now 
confronted her. 

Upon making this discovery, Maud grew more confident than if 
he had been a stranger, for she well remembered that he had always 
borne the reputation of being a despicable coward. She was in the 
act of addressing him when he interrupted her with : 

Well, Miss Pauline, it’s been a good while since I had the plea- 
sure of seeing you, and upon my soul I never expected to have such 
a romantic meeting as this. Make a splendid stage scene, wouldn’t 
it ? A group of rebels having a quiet little confab in a thicket, and 


42 


MAUD OE THE MISSISSIPPI: 


an angelic girl creeping close up outside; like an eavesdropping 
Indian. Something startles her and the rebels too. She draws a 
pistol ready for an emergency, and resolves to do or die. The 
rebels become assured, and resume their conversation; but in the 
meantime dispatch one of their number to reconnoitre. He creeps 
quietly off, makes a little circuit, comes up in the rear, finds my lady 
bird in ambush, and, to make the scene complete, makes her his 
prisoner, thus !” 

With these words the speaker, who, as we have said, was tall and 
brawny, made a half spring towards Maud, whom, of course, he 
knew only by her real name, Pauline. Like lightning flash, how- 
ever, the heroic girl avoided his grasp, and an instant later the 
deadly barrel of her weapon was leveled with so true an aim at his 
heart, that his life depended on the touch of her finger. 

Though Maud was thus well armed, her attacker had supposed 
that she, whom he knew to have been raised as tenderly as the deli- 
cate house lily, was entirely unused to revolvers, and could not use 
one. At a glance he saw the folly of this belief, and between his 
astonishment and fright, — for he was so close that he could almost 
see the ball within the muzzle of the piece, — he was utterly unable 
to even beg for mercy. 

Maud, still keeping her revolver directed at Corwin’s heart, thus 
broke the silence : 

I think the scene is finished with a fine tableau, Mr. Corwin I 
the more striking because the more unexpected to you ! Is it not 
so?” 

Though these words were spoken in a low tone of gratification 
and determination, there was a touch of mischief withal in them. 

It was impossible that Malcolm Corwin, after finding himself still 
living, could at once recover his self-possession ; and his voice was 
stammering, almost broken, as he replied, keeping his eyes always 
staring down into the pistol barrel : 

Excuse — me. Miss Pauline — I — I — didn’t intend to harm you ! 
Only a joke — that is — I — I — I’m sorry that it was you. Please low 
— lower your pistol! Oh! for God’s sake don’t fire! don’t!” 

The last part of this sentence came from Corwin’s ashy lips like 
shots; for as he was stammering he chanced to raise his glance from 
the revolver to Maud’s face. There he thought he saw a fierceness 
indicative of a determination to take his life, and therefore, dropping 
the little attempt he was making to lie, he thus begged for his exist- 
ence. 

Deceit and cowardice are well matched in you, Malcolm Cor- 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


43 


win,” replied Maud, contemptuously ; “ and if the Eebel Confede- 
racy depends in future for its prisoners upon retainers of your stripe, 
no exchange will ever be needed.” 

Whether Corwin noted what Maud said sufficiently well to under- 
stand it, was exceedingly doubtful, for, as though consumed with a 
fear of death, he again exclaimed, as he cowered backward : 

Oh, Miss Pauline I for Heaven’s sake lower that pistol I I’m not 
fit to die ! and if you were to twitch your finger only. I’d be gone I” 
Gone, doubtless, to the place you well deserve to go to I” rejoined 
Maud, throwing the greatest contempt into her manner, but at the 
same time partially acceding to the pitiful request of her cowardly 
would-be captor. 

Corwin’s gratitude was greater than his cowardice, and he promptly 
thanked Maud for her kind consideration. 

Maud as heartily wished this disagreeable interview ended as did 
her unwilling companion, and for exactly the same reason as he — 
personal safety. He feared an accidental discharge of the revolver, 
while she dreaded the accidental appearance of some rebel traveler. 
She was the only one who could terminate the affair, and the ques^ 
tion presented itself to her, how should she act in regard to the mat- 
ter ? At first she felt nonplussed ; but she soon decided upon her 
course. Raising again her weapon to its old position, and thereby 
raising the terror of Corwin to a corresponding height, she again 
addressed that prince of poltroons. 

Malcolm Corwin, of course you never expected to see me here 
and in this manner, and I hardly expected to see you thus. But 
there is no turning Fate from its way, and our meeting has resulted. 
Now I wish to part with you speedily, either for life or for ever” — 

‘‘I’ll go away,” broke in Corwin; “but lower that pistol! It 
might go off! I’ll go right away! I swear! I swear it before 
God!” 

“Save your piety,” said Maud, sternly; “you may need it all 
within two minutes !” 

“Oh, don’t. Miss Pauline, don’t! I’ll promise anything! I’ll do 
anything !” 

Never had our heroine seen such utter cowardice before, and she 
began to fear, from his increasing paleness, that Corwin would die 
from sheer fright. Suddenly it occurred to her that, beside getting 
clear of Malcolm, she might gain most valuable information from 
him, though the extra time required to do so would expose her to 
extra risk of capture. She could not resist the desire, however, and 
she forthwith began : 


44 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


“ Malcolm Corwin 1” — the revolver was leveled more firmly than 
before, and produced a beneficial effect — “there are two or three con - 
ditions on which I spare you your life I” 

“ Name them I” name them ! exclaimed Cor.win, gasping with re* 
lief and dread ; “ but lower that pistol ! do 1 it might go off 1” 

“ Not a hair’s breadth I” answered Maud, recognizing what a 
powerful and useful lever to her was this fear of death on the part of 
Corwin ; “ and if you fail to freely and fully answer all I may ask of 
you, your miserable existence shall instantly end.” 

“ But some one will be passing,” said Corwin, as though to gain 
time for consideration as to what he should do. , • 

“ In which case I shall be discovered I At that momqnt, Malcolm 
Corwin, your life ends !” 

The suspense, or rather his fair companion’s terrible determination, 
expressed as it was in every tone and feature, completely crumbled 
away what remnant was left of his manhood, and he begged of her 
to let him lead her into the thicket where his companions had been 
concealed, and where she would be perfectly secure from discovery. 

Maud felt that the game was now in her own hands, and she was 
soon seated opposite her coward guide within the sheltering thicket. 
The magic of her control lay in the ready revolver and her own 
firmly expressed determination to use it. 


CHAPTEE IV. 

HOW GENERAL GRANT’s SPY OBTAINED VALUABLE INFORMATION. 

Maud Melville implicitely believed in the truth of the saying that 
“ treachery and cowardice are never parted and she therefore 
took every precaution upon entering the thicket to prevent her com- 
panion from playing any trick upon her. 

“ Now, Malcolm Corwin,” spoke she, opening at once upon the 
subject she wished to converse upon, “ I heard one of the group of 
your companions speaking in reference to some gigantic plot which 
he has, or they have, laid against the Union cause. What are the 
full details of that plot?” 

As though stricken by a thunderbolt, Corwin started, and gazed 
half vacantly into the face of his fair interrogator. 

“ Indeed, Miss Pauline I” he said at length, somewhat recovering 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 45 

himself, '‘indeed, Miss Pauline, I took a very solemn oath not to 
divulge anything about that ; the solemnest kind of an oath.” 

" As you choosy about the matter,” replied Maud, throwing into her 
tones the utmost unconcern, " but of one thing I assure you, Malcolm 
Corwin ; when I started upon my present enterprise, I took my life in 
my hand, determined to sacrifice it at any moment the holy cause in 
which I am engaged should call for it. I consider the information I 
seek from you to be all important to the Federal cause ; therefore I 
must have it. If it becomes necessary to take your life in obtaining 
it, and thus exposing my own, I will do so on the spot.” 

The tone and look of the speaker caused a perceptible shiver to 
agitate Corwin’s frame, and he quickly rejoined : 

" Well, Miss Pauline, if my life’s going to be periled, I don’t think 
I’m bound to keep the thing secret any longer ; so I’ll just tell you all 
about it, though for that matter I don’t honestly believe it would 
ever have worked, for both Porter and Ellet are too old and sharp to 
be very easily taken in.” 

^ What was the plot ?” again coolly inquired Maud. 

" W ell, in the first place,” answered Corwin, " we were going to 
sweep the Mississippi river clear of the enemy’s navy !’^ « 

“ Ah, indeed,” smiled Maud, “ that was a grand idea ! But pray 
how did you intend to accomplish it ?” 

"Why, we were going to disguise ourselves as slaves, then coax 
Porter or Ellet or some of the Yankee commanders up the Yazoo a 
a little piece. When we got them there, we were going to board 
them before they knew what we were at. This done, we would have 
captured the vessels without the slightest alarm. We would then 
have put out into the river, and with the captured gunboats swept out 
Farragut and all the rest. Ha ! that would have been a splendid 
coup d\iat, as they say now-a-days.” 

This ill-used mouthful of French brought a smile upon Maud’s 
features ; but they quickly became quiet, nay, almost stern, as the 
sounds of approaching footsteps fell upon the still air of the forest. 

It would be a difficult task to say which of the two became really 
most agitated at this juncture; but both were evidently relieved as 
they discovered the intruder to be only a poor old negro, trudging 
along by himself to his hut, most likely to rest himself after the 
day’s hard toil. He had not heard any voices, for he walked steadily 
on, never turning his eyes, bilt keeping them ever fixed on the 
ground before him. 

As the solitude became once more unbroken, the heroic Maud 
again interrogated her companion. 


46 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


You were saying/’ remarked ske, ‘^that you intended to coax 
the Federal commander up the Yazoo; how did you intend to 
accomplish that portion of the programme ?” 

“Ha! that was the sharpest part of the dodge,” rejoined Corwin; 
“ we were to kidnap some discontented nigger, assist him to escape, 
and just hint to him before he went, that there were a thousand or 
two bales of cotton a little distance below Yazoo City, that we’d 
like to see fall into the hands of the Yankees. You see we knew 
if anything would fetch them, cotton would be just the article.” 

“ When was this plan to go into execution?” asked our heroine. 

“Next Tuesday morning.” 

“Well, one more question, Malcolm Corwin; or, no — let me see. 
Just write me off a list of the names of the parties who are engaged 
in this scheme, where they reside, and where they congregate or 
rendezvous.” 

‘'Oh 1 now. Miss Pauline, that’s too hard !” protested Corwin. But 
all to no purpose ; for Maud was not to be thwarted at a single point, 
and, weapon in hand, she compelled her unwilling but cowardly 
companion to obey her order. 

By the time the sun sank below the horizon, and the shades of 
evening began to clothe the forest with the sombre, dreary shades of 
coming night, Maud Melville had obtained all the information of any 
value to her, not only in regard to the rebel plot against the Union 
fleet, but also relative to other matters equally or even more impor- 
tant. 

“Well, Miss Pauline,” said Corwin, as the gloom became deep, 
“you’ve got all the points now that I can give you, and I guess I’ll 
bid you good evening.” 

“ Oh, no, I cannot part with you just yet, my obliging sir,” quickly 
answered Maud; “not until it beconjes quite dark. Otherwise, you 
might induce some of your more patriotic but less cowardly com- 
rades to pursue me all the way back to Farragut’s fleet, and perhaps 
they might take me prisoner, in which event I could not depend upon 
you to befriend me. After it is quite dark, I will go my way, and 
you will go yours. When I am out of sight, you may take me if 
you can.” 

Maud, while thus speaking, had keenly observed the expression 
of her companion’s face, and there she read with delight that he 
inwardly chuckled over her remark about Farragut, a remark that 
she had made purposely to deceive him as to her intentions ; for, so 
far from attempting to reach Farragut’s fleet, she determined upon 
going forward to Yicksburg as the safest plan. 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


47 


It soon became as dark as our heroine could desire, and after 
threatening Corwin with instant death if she caught him making 
any effort to follow her, she ordered him to leave her. 

The arrant coward needed no second bidding ; but quickly hurried 
away in the direction of the town. 

If he dreamed, however, that his fair captor and liberator remained 
still in the thicket subsequent, to his departure therefrom, he was 
sadly mistaken ; for the fearless girl followed him swiftly yet quietly, 
like his own shadow, to the house of a Henry R. Moss, immediately on 
the edge of the town, and within a short distance of that behind 
■which his comrades had so suddenly disappeared. 


CHAPTER Y. 

TO YAZOO CITY. ' " ' 

Maud Melville lingered about the little building -within whose 
doors she had seen Corwin enter, until caution imperatively demand- 
ed that she should give up the watch, for already curious eyes 
began to notice her. So, at an opportune moment, she slipped away 
and plunged into a wooded tract to the Eastward. After walking 
some* distance, she changed her direction to the North-west, so as to 
strike a road that she knew came out upon the Vicksburg and Waf- 
renton road. This in due time she reached, and traveled along it 
■with all speed possible under the circumstances, until nearly daylight, 
when, being almost overcome with her previous exertions, she sought 
out a spot covered with tough, thick bushes. Penetrating to what she 
considered a safe distance into these, she kneeled down to offer up a 
prayer of thanksgiving to that Supreme Being in whom she ever, ever 
trusted. 

What a beautiful, what a touching sight was that ! Up through the 
stilly night air, like the sweet syllables of Alpine convent bells, were 
carried the murmured words of devotion from the lips of the deli- 
cately nurtured Maud Melville. She prayed that God would send 
his good angel to guide her safely amid the perils by which she would 
be continually surrounded ; not for her own sake, but for the sake of 
the holy cause in which she was engaged, — the cause to which her 
beloved father, now in heaven, had devoted her. Never did the mellow- 


48 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


tongued vesper bell call a fairer, or more pious worshiper to devotion. 

When Maud had finished, she cast herself upon the earth, and was 
quickly lost in slumber, — not the startful slumber of a fugitive, but 
the gentle, refreshing sleep of an innocent child One peculiar char- 
acteristic of our heroine was this supreme belief in the power andv 
will of God. . This it was that made her so entirely fearless of dan- 
ger in accomplishing whatever she deemed it her duty to undertake. 

Ere she awoke it was fully noon ; but upon seeing it was no later, 
she once more fell asleep, and did not awaken again until a late hour 
of the afternoon. Her experience had taught her the value of rest to 
the system when its powers were,, constantly on the strain, and she 
accordingly took advantage of it%t every opportunity. 

After nightfall, Maud resumed her journey, much refreshed, not 
only by her slumber, but by a frugal, yet .substantial meal, composed 
of substances small of bulk and exceedingly nutritious, which she 
carried with her. Besides these articles of food, our heroine kept 
about her a small bag of the Coo/coa leaf, so highly prized by the 
natives of South America.* This precious store, however, she never 
drew upon except in occasions when other nourishment fiiiled, and 
the risk attending an attempt to procure any was too great. 

As we have said, it was at an advanced hour of the afternoon that 
Maud Melville awoke the second time. She found that she was close 
to the beleaguered city itself, and she was at first tempted to make her 
w'ay into it and survey minutely the fortifications, troops, and general 
aspects of the place. But though she might easily gain access within 
Pemberton’s lines, it would be quite a different matter getting outside 
again. In this case, she would be unable to fulfil in time the special 
mission she had undertaken for General Grant, which was to ascertain 
all the facts in relation to a quantity of naval stores and supplies that 
the Rebels were said to have collected on the Yazoo river. She 
earnestly desired, also, to reach the latter in time to give warning to 
Admiral Porter’s fleet of the intended attack upon it In view of the 
importance of time, therefore, our heroine soon decided to leave the 
inspection of Vicksburg itself for her return trip, and to hasten for- 
ward to her destination as rapidly as possible. 

In making her way thither, she met with no adventure of any 
consequence, for she traveled by the most unfrequented roads, main- 

* The natives of South America, especially in the mountain countries, will perform 
the most terribly exhausting journeys with no other support than once in a while 
chewing this singular leaf. Its invigorating powers are so great that the Indians 
will be hearty and but little fatigued at the end of the longest journey, though they 
have little or no other food. 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


49 


taining, as a general rule, an equal distance between tbe Yazoo river 
and the Mississippi Central Eailroad. Her reasons for this course 
were that the Rebels expected General Grant, who had arrived at 
Young’s Point in person, to advance either down the Mississippi and 
up the Yazoo, or to cross the country above,, strike the railroad 
about Panola, and move a heavy column of cavalry and infantry 
down to meet a corresponding column of Banks’s forces. However 
unmilitary this idea may seem to even the least instructed, certain it 
was, our heroine found it to be the accepted one among the rebels. 
Most likely the previous operations in that region of the indomitable 
Grant, together with the present movements of the union cavalry 
raids, inclined them to the belief. They therefore closely guarded 
the lines indicated, making it extremely hazardous for any one not 
friendly to the rebellion to be found near them. 

Strange to say, Maud, upon arriving at Yazoo City, found hardly 
any difficulty whatever in entering it and moving with almost perfect 
freedom anywhere she chose. For this she was at a loss to account, 
except from the fact that the Rebels. had the most supreme confidence 
in the strength of the batteries at Haines’ Bluff* and the torpedoes 
that had been moored at short intervals from the mouth of the Yazoo. 
The former were most likely the grand dependence of the Confede- 
rate cause in that region, as they were of the most formidable charac- 
ter. For an idea of the invulnerability of the Haines’ Bluff* fortifica- 
tions, the reader is referred to Admiral Porter’s official report, dated 
“ Yazoo River, May 20th, 1863.” That gallant commander, so highly 
lauded by his friend and co-patriot. General Grant, therein says : 

“ These works and encampments covered many acres of ground, 
and. the fortifications and the rifle-pits proper of Haines’ Bluff ex- 
tend about a mile and a quarter. SiLch a net-work of defences I never 
sa w /” 

Just previous to entering the town, our heroine chanced to cast her 
eyes toward a little knoll on which was growing some large trees. 
As she did so, she caught a glimpse of a tall man, who on the instant 
slipped behind a tree out of her sight. Maud felt convinced that she 
herself was the object of his attention, and she at once concluded that 
the stranger was none other than Malcolm Corwin. If it were he, 
then her ruse to send him in pursuit of herself toward Farragut’s 
fleet had failed. For a moment Maud stood irresolute what to do. 
In the meantime the stranger stepped boldly from his concealment, 
and beckoned kindly to her to come to him. It is not probable that 
she would have done so, had she not noticed that the fellow carried a 
long rifle across his arm, and was within easy range of her. Instantly 


50 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


a thought struck Maud that he was one of General Grant’s scouts, 
for had he been a rebel, he would not have hesitated at making the 
utmost noise in an effort to capture her, whereas he seemed to fear 
discovery more than she did herself. Quickly her decision was taken, 
therefore, and as quickly executed; for, with a bold and confident mien, 
she walked directly over to the stranger, though at the same time 
preparing to defend herself to the last extremity if treachery were 
intended. 

The first peculiarity that Maud noticed about her unknown com- 
panion, was a most singular bluish tinge overspreading his whole 
countenance. 

“ I beg your pardon. Miss,” at once commenced he as soon as our 
heroine reached him, “ but I’d like to say something to you. I know 
what you are, though I don’t know your name. You’re a Union spy 
from Grant’s army. I’ve been follerin’ you ever sence you got past 
Sulphur Spring. I know what you’re coming up to Yazoo City for, 
at least I oughter know, and afore you went into it I kinder thought 
it wuz my dooty to tell you that you’re a bein’ looked out fur there. 

“You see there wuz a cowardly sort of a cuss that telegraphed up 
here from Warrenton, I think, to three of his friends to watch out 
fur you.” 

“ What were their names ?” asked Maud. 

“ Hallett, Bascombe, and Lynch,” replied the stranger. 

“Ha!” exclaimed our heroine, “they are three of the gang who 
reside in the town.” 

“Not exactly,” said the other, coolly; “Bascombe and Lynch 
don’t reside anywhere now, except you call lying stiff and quiet 
under a head and foot-stone residin’.” 

Maud could not repress a shudder, for there was in the tones and 
manner of the speaker a something that told her he was the cause of 
the death of the two men mentioned. 

“ What do you mean ?” asked she. 

“I mean,” was the reply, “that Bascombe and Lynch came across 
me, and this (slapping his rifle) came across them. But come along 
with me, if you’re not afraid of such a bad-appearing man as I am. 
I’ll show you a place where you’ll be just as safe as if you’d never 
left your mother’s lap. It’s my place, but I’ll give it up to you, for 
I know I can trust you.” 

Without waiting for an answer, the singular man turned on his 
heel and walked away. 

Maud was thus placed in a new and entirely unexpected predica- 
ment. Here suddenly, and in the very locality in which she had 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


61 


been looking for enemies, she had come upon a friend, at least one 
professing friendship both for her and her cause. But was it all 
genuine ? 

AVhether it was or not, our heroine was not a second resolving 
upon what she should do ; for, throwing her trust upon the Staff that 
never breaks, she hastened away after her mysterious guide, whose 
personal appearance was really most forbidding, and whose strength, 
judging from his large frame, was sufficient to annihilate Maud in a 
moment, had he intended violence. 

On casting a^look behind him, and seeing his fair companion 
dauntlessly following, he slackened his pace, and said in gratified 
tones : 

Thank you. Miss, for your confidence, and I admire your 
bravery ! I don’t believe there’s one woman in a thousand, ’special- 
ly one as beautiful and refined as you are, would follow such a des- 
perate looking fellow as I am.” 

Afraid !” exclaimed Maud, smiling gaily ; why, of what should 
I be afraid ? Certainly not of so noble a looking man as you.” 

It was now the stranger’s turn to be surprised ; nay, be was more 
than surprised, he was dumbfounded ; and he gazed in silence at our 
heroine. 

Well,” said he at last, and with a very evident tremor in his 
voice, “ may God bless you, beautiful girl, for those kind, gracious 
words ! They are the first that ha ve saluted my ears this many a 
year that’s gone. However, let us hurry on, for it would be hard to 
tell whether any unfriendly eyes are watching us.” 

Presently the two reached a rapid stream, which was bridged only 
by a fallen tree, scarcely wide enough to give passage to one person, 
and even then requiring dexterity to avoid accident. With a grace 
and dignity that our heroine had never seen except in refined circles, 
her rough guide took her hand, and led her upon the fallen trunk, 
while he himself strode into the water. Several times during the 
passage Maud made miss-steps, and would have been precipitated 
into the stream but for the strong arm of her powerful companion, 
who himself was above his waist in the deepest part of the water. 

From the further side of the stream the distance traveled by our 
heroine and the stranger was perhaps a mile and a half. At this 
point the latter suddenly halted, and said, as he motioned toward a 
gorge that seemed choked up with an impenetrable undergrowth : 

‘‘ There, Miss, is my home ; not very attractive, I admit, but it’s 
safe, and not exactly uncomfortable, I assure you. Just stop here 
a-bit, and I’ll return quickly.” 


52 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


* Thus speaking, the stranger left Maud and made his way, with 
much apparent ease, into the depths of the thicket. He was gone 
several minutes, during which time Maud was deeply, and even pain* 
fully pondering her situation ; for, notwithstanding all the trust she 
had put in the stranger, he might, notwithstanding, be a villain, — a 
rebel in disguise, a robber, a murderer I His manner and his lan- 
guage were certainly not those of a person born and bred in that 
wild region, and by his own acknowledgment he had taken the lives 
of Bascombe and Lynch. War, however, was being waged, and per- 
haps he was justified in the latter. 


CHAPTEK YI. 

AN UNEXPECTED FRIEND. 

Our heroine, in reality, wished to fly at the moment, but controlled 
by one of those indefinable influences that sometimes take possession 
of the mind, she complied with the invitation extended to her by 
both the stranger and the negro woman, and followed them into the 
thicket. She quickly emerged into an open space that had been 
cleared purposely for the erection of a rough log hut, that she per- 
ceived at once was the abode of her strange guide. Doubtless the 
reader may be incredulous as to the fact of a young, refined, highly 
educated, and beautiful lady passing through such unlikely scenes ; 
but we must narrate history and truth simply as we find them. 

The furniture of the rough cabin was simple and rude in the 
extreme, and the only touch of refinement there was about it was a 
shelf holding half a dozen old books, and a common mahogany pic- 
ture frame hanging over it, containing the likeness of an old lady.- 

“ Pray be seated. Miss,” said the stranger, in a manner and tone 
almost elegant; “you must, indeed, be quite tired out.” 

This sudden alteration of the stranger’s language, from the uncouth 
South-Western dialect to elegance of expression, showed that the 
former had been merely assumed. 

“ An’ gi’ me yer tings. Missus,” added the negress, approaching 
Maud, and extending her hands to receive the latter’s bonnet and 
mantle, “an’ Pll tote ’em away fur ye.” 

Our heroine complied; not that she wished to, for all her com- 


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OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 61 

pliance seemed from the first to have been mechanical, involun- 
tary. 

Within half an hour, however, Maud was fully reassured, and as 
perfectly at home as she could have been in her own house. After 
partaking of a capital meal, the most agreeable part of which was a 
dish of delicious tea, she entered into a long conversation with her 
host, whose whole history she succeeded in obtaining. We should 
be pleased to record it as fully as she afterward detailed it, but lack 
of space forbids more than a condensed sketch thereof in this 
connection. 

Benjamin Livingston, for such was the stranger’s name, was well 
born in Khode Island, graduated at one of the most celebrated 
Eastern colleges at an early age, and entered with great promise upon 
a professional career in his native city. Soon after this he became 
enamored of a young lady, noted alike for her accomplishments and 
personal beauty. He loved her devotedly, and firmly believed that 
she ardently returned his feelings. From this fond dream he was 
suddenly and rudely awakened. He was spending a season in her 
company at Hewport, for already had she assented to become his 
wife, and so the matter had been accepted by the friends of both. 
While at Newport, she made the acquaintance of a Mississippi planter, 
very wealthy, very aristocratic, and equally base of heart. He cun- 
ningly wormed himself into the confidence and heart of the giddy, 
inexperienced beauty, and one morning Benjamin awoke to the terri- 
ble fact that the planter had robbed him of the treasure that he had 
so deeply valued. Instantly a feeling of vengeance possessed him, 
and he started in pursuit of the desecrator. From town to town, and 
city to city, did he trace the villain, but without success, until he 
reached the little village of Yazoo City — a cotton speculation having 
called the planter thither. The truant accompanied him. Here one 
evening he asked her to walk across to a friend’s with him, and she 
assented. It was just as the pair were leaving the village for the 
purpose mentioned, that Livingston saw them for the first time since 
leaving Newport, and doubtless the planter imagined that pursuit was 
over long ago. 

The injured man would have rushed at once upon the blaster of 
his future happiness, but he yearned toward his faithless betrothed. 
He first wished to be fully convinced that she no longer loved him. 
So with feverish steps he followed the two as they strolled leisurely 
along. Presently he noticed the planter leading his fair companion 
from the road into a piece of woodland, and he quickened his steps 
that he might not lose sight of them. 

3 


62 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


Suddenly lie heard a wild scream, and bounded forward just in 
time to behold the unfortunate girl sink to earth, cloven by a savage 
blow of a gleaming bowie knife, in the hands of her seducer. 
Already had her loveliness palled his appetite, and thus by foul mur- 
der he sought to rid himself of the incumbrance of her presence. 

In an instant Livingston was upon the murderer, and though 
wounded by the latter, quickly overpowered him, and as quickly 
crushed his vile life out. Next he turned to his betrothed, who only 
lived long enough to ask and receive his forgiveness, and place her 
arms abouf his neck in a last embrace. 

The gorge in which he now lived was close at hand, and into this 
he tenderly bore the remains of the still beloved dead one, and there 
buried them. The seducer’s body was found early the following 
morning, and close by it a memorandum book, bearing the name 
and address of Benjamin Livingston. Wealth and position were on 
the side of the planter, and Livingston, of course, became a fugitive. 
Chancing to fall in with the negress who now kept his little cabin, 
he had received from her a preparation made from particular herbs, 
which so altered his face as to defy recognition, even by intimate 
friends. His features afterward, however, never recovered their 
natural color, but always remained of the singular bluish shade that 
had so forcibly attracted our heroine’s attention. 

From the night of the fearful tragedy Livingston never sought 
to quit the region thereof, but, building a little cabin in the gorge 
where slept his first and only love, he determined to forsake society 
for ever, and pass his life in solitude. The preparation of the friendly 
negress had insured him from detection, and out of pure gratitude 
he had purchased her, and she came to keep house ” for him as she 
facetiously told Maud. The likeness of the old lady hanging up over 
the bookshelf was that of Livingston’s mother, who had died sudden- 
ly a day or two after her son had set out from Newport on his mission 
vengeance. 

As might be readily supposed, Livingston entertained naught but 
feelings of hatred toward the Southerners at the commencement 
of hostilities, and he had been inclined to take up the cause of the 
Union. But in the first place he disdained to be a spy, which, he 
said, was not manly, but only a ‘'fit war business for such educated 
women as Maud Melville.” And in the next place he could not bear 
the slightest restraint on his inclinations by the will of another. He 
had been gradually becoming, however, more and more interested in 
the great National struggle, and he had finally, in spite of himself, 
become absorbed in it. Maud was more delighted at this statement 


OB, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


63 


on the part of her host, as he could beyond doubt, lend her the most 
valuable assistance in the prosecution of her present enterprise. 

Time was flying, and our heroine was exceedingly anxious to ac- 
complish both the objects of her journey. She therefore informed 
her kind protector of her determination to set out the next morning ; 
and he, unable to dissuade her from so early an execution of her re- 
solve, at once volunteered to follow her, and attempt her rescue in 
case of arrest. It was now Maud’s turn to endeavor to dissuade 
Livingston, but she, like himself, failed. 

Ha !” said he in answer to her remonstrances. There are few 
men in these regions would care to trouble me. I do not know the 
reason, but every one seems to hold a superstitious dread of ‘Blue Ben,’ 
as they call me.” 

“ Blue Ben !” exclaimed Maud, as the sobriquet seemed to startle 
her into a remembrance of some past event; ‘ Blue Ben !’ that is the 
expression I heard Corwin’s companions make use of. They spoke 
in a threatening manner, as though they intended to injure him.” 

Livingston nodded his head with a meaning smile as he said quietly: 

“ Ah, yes ! no doubt I” 

The next morning, as the sun was just coming up, our heroine left 
the retreat in which she had been so securely and hospitably enter- 
tained, and started across the country for Yazoo City. “ Blue Ben,” 
true to his word, followed after her, but kept no closer to her than 
was necessary to have her always in view. 

As though Providence had taken the dauntless girl under its special 
protection she experienced not the slightest trouble in moving about 
the city, although every important part was guarded with the greatest 
apparent vigilance, rendering her discovery at times almost certain. 

On one particular occasion she owed her safety to the coolness and 
tact of her protector. A Eebel sentinel chancing to fix his attention 
on her, left the spot in which he was standing, to stop her. A 
moment or so later, “ Blue Ben” stumbled so violently against him as 
to send him heavily to the earth. The ground was rather muddy, the 
sentinel had on a new uniform, and was of a vain and fiery tempera- 
ment. He instantly sprang to his feet, a squabble ensued, which 
ended in “Blue Ben’s” begging the fellow’s pardon, and slipping a 
bank note into his hand. In the meantime Maud was gone. 

Our fair spy obtained the smallest minutiae of what she had come 
to Yazoo City for, and so much encouraged was she by her success, 
that she was tempted to make an effort to destroy an immense depot 
of coal that had been collected close to the city, and also the saw mill 
on the opposite side of the river. In this mill the rebels dressed all 


64 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI*. 


th^ timber they were using in the construction of the monster ram 
that was afterward destroyed by Lieutenant Commander Walker. 
In conjunction with Livingston she was to hazard its accomplishment 
on the same night. Finding, however, that a strong wind was set- 
ting in the direction of the city she relinquished the idea on account 
of the defenceless women and children. Mercy spoke to her heart 
in stronger accents than even patriotism, and the coal remained un- 
injured. Not so with the mill, however, for this she succeeded in 
firing, and in so ingenious a manner that we will detail it. 

The Confederates at this time were dreading some of General 
Grant’s ' brilliant dashes, and consequently they had that very after- 
noon placed a strong guard in and around this mill, together with two 
field pieces. Thus it was impossible to approach it without discovery. 
In this dilemma Maud’s invention came to her aid. She had previously 
prepared fire-balls of phosphorus, cotton, rosin, naptha, and one or 
two highly inflammable chemical substances, for the purpose of drop- 
ping about the building among the chips and light wood under a 
long shed that ran along the side Of the mill. Just previous to being 
so dropped, they were to be saturated with a solution that, in a certain 
length of time, by its chemical action, ignited the mass ; and once 
fired, no amount of water would extinguish the flame.* 

Borrowing several rifle bullets from Livingston, Maud placed each 
in a quantity of the prepared cotton. She next improvised a sling 
with the aid of some ribbons that she wore. This she gave to her 
companion, together with the fire-balls, with the request that he try 
his skill at lodging the latter in the right spots. 

“If I had these bullets in my rifle barrel here, I wojild warrant to 
send each within an inch or two of where it ought to go,” replied he, 
“but with this kind of a rifle, I’m not quite so sure. However, I’ll 
try it.” 

The night was dark and cloudy, with a gusty wind ; and at the 
distance the two friends stood from the mill, they could barely make 
out its dark outlines. As Livingston was straining his eyes through 
the gloom, in an endeavor to calculate his distance, a shutter on that 
side of the mill was thrown open, emitting a stream of light from a 
lamp that hung from a beam in the ceiling. 

“ A few feet to the right of that light !” whispered Maud, with 
anxiety and pleasure mingled in her tones, as ishe laid her hand on 
Livingston’s arm. He then stepped back a pace or two, to allow 
room for the sweep of the sling. 

* Simple phosphorus will burn fiercely even while held completely under water. 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


65 


A whirr or two, and a snapping jerk, and the first fiery messenger 
was hurled swiftly toward the mill. No sound followed; though 
both held their breaths to listen. 

“lam afraid it went over the roof; I cast too high/’ said Living- 
ston. “ Let me try another.” 

This time the leaden bullet was so arranged as to be uncovered 
on one side, and thus make a noise on striking any hard object. 
Again the quick whirr, and the snapping jerk, and the second fire- 
ball was on its way. A sharp stroke that came back to the ears of 
the friends told that the side of the mill had been struck, and conse- 
quently, that the fire-ball had been lodged in about the right spot. 

Six in all were thrown, and then “ Blue Ben” and Maud watched 
eagerly for the promised result. Nor had they long to wait, for 
presently two little twinkling jets, like stars or glow-worms, were 
seen growing larger and larger; then another and another, until 
there were four in all. Now came a fear that the fire-balls would be 
seen by the rebel guards, and extinguished ; for they seemed to burn 
but slowly. Suddenly, however, a blast of wind caught them, and 
instantly, almost, they leaped wrathfully among the light dry wood, 
and sprang fiercely up the side of the wall ere thMr presence was 
discovered. 

An alarm was at once given, but, as Maud and Livingston turned 
away from the scene, the blazing mill was already lighting lyp the 
country round about for a considerable distance. 


CHAPTEE YII. 

MAUD WARNS THE FLEET. 

There was now but one other object to be accomplished, ere our 
heroine took the road back to Vicksburg, and that was to hasten 
down toward the mouth of the Yazoo, in the hope of meeting some 
one of the Union scouting boats, and thereby warning the fleet of 
the plot that had been laid by Corwin’s gang. One- fact in regard to 
the statement made to her by Corwin, struck Maud as rather peculiar. 
It had not done so before. He mentioned that the plan was to coax 
Porter, or some other of the Federal Commanders, up the Yazoo, to 
capture one or two thousand bales of cotton just hehw Yazoo City 


66 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


Now, in order to reach any point that was just belmo Yazoo City, a 
fleet would necessarily be obliged to pass the Haines’ Bluflf batteries, 
Upon perceiving the absurdity of the matter, our heroine was about 
to turn off toward Vicksburg; but, on a second thought, she deter- 
mined to proceed, as by so doing she would most likely obtain some 
valuable information about these same formidable batteries. 

The latter she reached in due time, and it so happened that as she 
came in sight of them she beheld Malcolm Corwin, with several 
companions, taking their way down the river path, toward the 
Mississippi. 

In an instant, she felt convinced that they were setting out upon 
their diabolical errand, though the location of the mythical cotton 
would of course be stated at some point below Saines' Bluff, instead 
of below Yazoo City. Her previous determination to inspect the 
batteries was at once relinquished for the more important one of 
warning the Union fleet. So without halting, she made a wide de- 
tour, came out on the river bank some distance ahead of Corwin’s 
party, and then hastened forward with all speed to the Mississippi. 
The whole way down, however, she did not come upon the object of 
her search, and upon reaching the bank of the Mississippi she began 
• to fear that she would not see a vessel. But shortly afterward a tug 
hove in sight, and was quickly signalled by Maud. The latter was 
in painful doubt a% to whether the boat, being unarmed, would notice 
the signal ; but the captain, being a brave man, came in close enough 
to see a second and private signal that assured him all was right. A 
boat was lowered away, and soon reached the fair signaller’s feet. 
Maud hurriedly wrote the details she wished to communicate to 
General Grant concerning Yazoo City and its stores, handed it to 
the officer in charge of the boat, and then turned back into the 
woods. 

The next day she saw Corwin and his comrades, with a negro in 
their midst, marching down the river bank. Shortly afterward the 
booming of a gun broke through the quiet air, and she felt certain 
that a gunboat had treated the would-be heroes to a very unexpect- 
ed salute. The beautiful girl, when on a future occasion narrating 
this incident, remarked ; 

Perhaps it was wicked, but I really experienced gratification as 
that sound fell upon my ears.” 

Without waiting to ascertain the fate of the conspirators, our 
heroine hastened back to Haines’ Bluff, or rather to Milld^e, just in 
front of the cannon-bristling Bluff. As before, no trouble overtook 
the dauntless girl, and she obtained sufficient information concerning 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


67 


the strength of the place and the weakest points in its defences, 
though in truth these latter were few enough. There is, however, 
considerable truth in the old adage, “ It’s a long lane that has no 
turning,” and Maud unfortunately experienced it. She had com- 
pleted several fine and very accurate drawings of particular positions 
and so forth, and concealed them securely from observation about 
her person, and had succeeded in reaching a point some three miles 
from Haines’ Bluft* when she was surprised and captured by two 
fierce cavalrymen, who it seems had been sent after her by the rebel 
Colonel who commanded the post. So well planned, and so unexpect- 
ed was the attack, that our heroine found herself unable for defence 
and obliged to surrender to her captors. 

One of the latter, with more gallantry than she had looked for, 
mounted her upon his own horse, after disarming her, and then, 
taking the bridle in his hand, returned in the direction of the town. 
Maud was well aware that her doom as a spy would be death ; yet so 
confident was she in her resources that she .did not give herself a 
moment’s uneasiness, and chatted so pleasantly and gaily with her 
captors that ^he subsequently remarked, she verily believed they 
would have let her escape at the time, if she had only thought of 
asking them.” 

On being brought into the presence of the Commandant, Colonel 
Hemmings, the latter, after interrogating hej* for ten minutes, ordered 
her to be confined securely in a vacant room. The order was proper- 
ly obeyed, and our heroine accordingly imprisoned in a little apart- 
ment, that was lighted and ventilated only by a narrow slit of a window 
in the high ceiling. The walls were uncleanly and stained, and the 
furniture consisted solely of a broken Windsor chair, a ragged lounge, 
a leaf of an old table, and three or four fragments of dirty carpet. 

Maud’s hopes of escape were somewhat dampened on seeing the 
unfavorable position of the window or skylight. But with the re- 
cuperative power of all French minds, she speedily regained her 
usual vivacity ; and with an -equal determination, she had not been in 
durance twenty minutes before she had made a rickety pedestal 
of the lounge and bits of furniture, even making the scraps of old 
carpet subserve her ends. 

The great difiiculty now was to mount this shaky monument with- 
out having it clattering to the floor, and thus alarming her captors. But 
even this she at last overcame by her persevering efforts. After all, 
however, she met with a poor recompense ; for, on raising her head 
through the window — which, in passing, we may state had no sash, 
•and therefore was in reality only a trap — she found that in one di- 


68 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI : 


direction her view was interrupted bj some empty barrels piled up with 
military exactness for some purpose or other. The opposite side 
brought her no better comfort, for on the edge of the roof was run 
up, to a height of at least two feet, a boarding like a sign, while the 
intervening space was occupied by full lines of clothes hung out to 
dry. 

The fair captive quickly got down, arranged each article as it had 
been when she entered the cell, and cast herself upon the lounge to 
brood over her misfortune. 

Night came ere her solitude was intruded upon, and then came 
Colonel Hemmings alone, dressed and perfumed as though he were 
going to a ball, instead of a prisoner’s cell. Setting the light he car- 
ried down, he seated himself upon the lounge, but at a respectful 
distance from his captive, who, therefore, did not rise, as she had 
intended to do had he placed himself nearer. In reality, he appeared 
somewhat embarrassed, and was ill , at ease as he ^opened the 
eonversation. 

His object presently became apparent. He wished to play the 
part of the polished villain that he had doubtless often seen described 
in highly- wrought sensation novels, — a villain who assumes a vast 
number of airs while committing crime. As Maud at last compre- 
hended her situation, she became pale with dread ; but at the same 
instant, her ashy lips were pressed firmly together with the determi- 
nation that possessed her to resist to the death. 

‘'Is this your boasted chivalry?” bitterly cried Maud, “to take 
advantage of a woman’s weakness ; to use your superior strength to 
inflict irreparable injury on one whom God has ordained with virtue 
alone for her defence.” 

“ I must search you myself for the papers,” rejoined the rebel 
Colonel, his lecherous voice growing husky with gross desire as he 
spoke. 

A moment more, and his hand was upon our heroine’s shoulder. 
Quick as thought Maud started back, turned from the commandant, 
drew the desired papers (the drawings she had made of the fortifica- 
tions) from the bosom of her dress, and wheeling about, again faced 
him. Extending the papers toward him, she said in tones of solemn, 
even tragic dignity : 

“ Colonel Hemmings, I have believed it my duty to devote myself 
to my adopted country. The only manner in which I could serve it 
to any purpose was by becoming a spy. I did so. I came to the 
South with my life in my hands for that purpose. I have done your 
cause, which before God I think is wicked and unjust, much injury. 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


09 


For my adopted land I have sacrificed my wealth; for it I have 
sacrificed my friends, my enjoyments, my health ; for it I will sacri- 
fice my life ; but, thank God, thank God, it does not demand my 
honor ! It will mourn my death, but it shall praise my virtue. Its 
millions of tongues shall not say that, even in its holy cause, Pauline 
D’Estraye stained the shrine of womanly virtue. There 1 take the 
papers ! They will convict me, I know, of being a spy, and I will 
suffer the fate of a spy. But, Colonel, what my country does not 
ask of me, you will not force. On my bended knees I ask you.” 

In the agony of her fear the lovely girl had used her real instead 
of her assumed name, and the instant Hemmings heard it he started 
and became pale. His fair companion did not notice this, but with the 
end of her appeal she sank imploringly before him to the floor, di- 
sheveling her long, silky tresses by the act, and exposing to view a 
locket that she constantly wore about her neck. 

“ Pauline !” 

It was the voice of Hemmings that broke the silence. Passion had 
suddenly left its tones, and the sound was low and pleading. 

“ Pauline !” still more gently than before. 

For the first time the kneeling girl noticed the change that had 
come upon the rebel Colonel. 

The latter extended his hand, and taking hers, raised her kindly 
up, saying as he did so : 

Pauline, I fear to ask your forgiveness, but I owe it to you, at 
least, to explain why the mere mention of your name has recalled 
me from the ruffian violator to the man. Years ago, when your 
father resided in Eichmond, he. saved my life, — saved my name fro-m 
being blasted for all time. How, or in what way, must ever remain 
a secret. Sufficient that he did, and that he thereby laid me under a 
life-long depth of gratitude. Heaven be praised that I have been 
prevented from doing his memory so heinous an offence, as in my 
blind passion I would have done. 

I will take these papers f /om you. I believe it my duty to do 
so ; but God do so, and more also to me, if I harm you in the slight- 
est degree. To-night, at twelve o’clock, I will come for you. A 
fleet horse shall be in waiting for you without the fort. You can fly 
without pursuit, and when you reach your own lines, endeavor to 
forget the damnable wickedness I intended you, — endeavor, Pauline, 
to forgive me.” 

The lovely girl, thus suddenly released from her awful peril, gazed 
vacantly at the speaker, and then, clasping her hands over her heart, 
and raising her eyes heavenward, she murmured softly, devoutly : 


70 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


'^Father, dear father, far away out of your grave have you 
stretched forth you protecting arm, and shielded your orphan child ! 
Colonel,” she continued, after a pause, in a frank manner extending 
her hand to her companion, I forgive you already ; as I expect to 
be forgiven, so I forgive you freely, fully!” 

A few minutes later our heroine was once more alone ; nor was 
her privacy broken until midnight, when, true to his promise. Colonel 
Hemmings entered the apartment, and requested his captive to follow 
him. She did so, and found a splendid steed awaiting her. She was 
quickly mounted, and as she was turning away, Hemmings took her 
hand, and drawing her down toward him, said in a low voice : 

One favor ere we part, Pauline ; promise me that you will never 
breathe to living mortal what has passed to-night.” 

I promise it. Colonel ; &rewell.” 

Farewell 1” 

And farewell indeed it was, and for ever ; for the next morning the 
rebel Colonel was discovered dead in his bed. The post surgeon 
made an examination of the corpse. Ho physical cause whatever 
could be found for the death of the deceased, and therefore it was 
said that he died by the visitation of Heaven.” 


CHAPTER YIII. 

A THRILLING ADVENTURE. 

Rapid and strange were the thoughts and emotions that flitted like 
meteors through Maud Melville’s mind, as she rode away in the 
direction of Vicksburg. The latter stronghold was not a long dis- 
tance away, but in the intervening miles there was no foreseeing 
what might happen, not only to thwart our heroine’s grand object, 
but even to destroy herself. She had appointed to meet Livingston 
at a point midway between Haines’ Bluff and Vicksburg, he having 
been obliged, after escorting Maud safely as far as the Bluffs from 
Yazoo City, to go down to the place named to see a friend, he said, 
on important business. Not wishing in the darkness to pass this 
point, Maud wheeled her steed into the woods, when, securing him 
to a tree, she sought to rest until day-dawn. Just after she had 
fallen asleep, a violent storm came up suddenly, drenching her to the 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


71 


skin, and frightening her horse so much that he broke the rein which 
held him, and dashed away homeward. Maud did not, however, 
regret his loss, for she was much safer afoot than mounted. • 

The tempest died away as quickly as it had burst forth, and when 
the sun rose, the only signs to be seen of it were the dripping foliage 
and the muddy ground. As our heroine had lost her usual store of 
provisions, she had recourse to the Qoacoa leaves, to which we have 
once before referred. 

She had not intended to attempt to procure any food in the region 
through which she was now journeying, but, chancing to espy an old 
negro crossing a cotton field, through which she was about to pass, she 
hailed him, and quickly ascertained that he would befriend her. (In 
piissing, we may remark that she nearly always depended for assist- 
ance upon the negro slaves, and never but orice did she say she was 
betrayed by them.) The old man wanted her to come to his hut, 
where his wife also lived. 

Dar’s only us two, chile,” said he, rather mournfully, dey sold 
’de last ob our tree chil’en day befo’ yesterday.” 

A few words of explanation from Maud, however, induced him 
not to importune her ; but he insisted on bringing her a little suffin 
t’eat.” To this she consented, and hastening away, he presently re- 
turned with some fresh corn -bread, a slice of bacon, and an apple. 
Our heroine could not repress the tears of pity and gratitude that 
sprang to her eyes, for in that humble present she knew that the 
poor old man had brought her the choicest dainties his larder could 
produce. 

Upon parting with him she put some money in his hand, and bade 
him remember her. 

De Lor’ bress you ’un, chile I” said he, ‘‘ de ole’ man’s head’s berry 
weak, an’ berry white, but won’t f ’git ; good bye I de Lor’ bress ye !” 

So occupied was Maud’s mind with this little incident, that she did 
not keep in the right direction, but got far to the East. How long 
she would have continued thus it would, of course, be impossible to 
say ; but she was finally aroused by hearing a shrill scream. At once 
she was on the qui vive, A second scream echoed through the woods, 
and excited Maud so much that she sprang forward at a round pace 
to ascertain the cause thereof. This she soon discovered. Close on 
the edge of a deep rugged fissure stood an Octoroon girl struggling 
with two swarthy villains, who seemed to be attemping to cast her 
headlong into the opening. 

Confess !” thundered one of the brutes with a fearful oath, “ that 


72 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


you blowed the plan, or down you go in among the snakes down 
there, that you see hissing for you !” ) 

Pitch the d d wench in anyhow. Bill,” added the other; 

weVe got all we wanted, and dead crows never caw I” 

This seemed to decide the poor creature’s fate, for, dragging her 
back a pace or two, to give greater force to her fall, the Octoroon’s 
savage captors were about to dash her to the bottom of the fissure, 
which, from the remarks of the first villain, was one of those loath- 
some dens selected by serpents to breed in. This was the critical 
moment, and Maud, springing from the covert in which she had been 
concealed, leveled her revolver at the would-be murderers. 

^^Base, heartless fiends! what are you doing?” cried she, with 
flashing eyes; “one step, and as God hears me, each of you shall 
die 1” 

The scoundrels were so astounded that they seemed paralyzed, 
and, without loosing their intended victim, stood staring at Maud 
without the power of speech. At this moment the sharp crack of a 
rifle broke from a neighboring thicket, and one of the miscreants 
sank dead. His companion would have fled, but for fear of our 
heroine’s weapon. He might just as well have attempted flight, how- 
ever, for, when about sufficient time had elapsed to load a rifle, a 
second crack came from the same thicket as the first, and he too 
was instantly in eternity. 

A moment later, and before either Maud or the intended victim 
herself recovered from her amazement at this sanguinary interposi- 
tion, Livingston strode forth from the thicket. 

“ Those villains have met their deserts at last I” said he coolly, 
advancing to Maud; “but,” he continued, in tones of semi-anxiety 
and admiration, “ this is no place for you, Miss Melville ; a signal 
might have brought some comrades of these two vile carcasses, and 
then your heroic act would have ended far differently. They are 
not soldiers, but cold-blooded cut-throats, committing just such 
crimes as you behold.” 

At this moment the unfortunate Octoroon recovered her senses 
sufficiently to cast herself at her preserver’s feet, and pour forth her 
gratitude in broken, happy tones. She lived near by, in the house of 
a wealthy planter, during whose absence the marauders had entered, 
seized their victim and carried her to this lonely spot, where, by 
murdering her, they expected to hide for ever all traces of. their 
guilt. Eaising her up, Livingston cheered her with words of com- 
fort, and advised her to return to her home immediately. The poor 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPT. 73 

girl was still so bewildered, however, that she scarcely knew what 
was said to her. 

“ We will see you to your home,” exclaimed the heroic Maud, in 
such a manner as to convince Livingston that remonstrance on the 
peril thus incurred would be useless ; so he offered no objection. 

Ere setting out, however, he concealed the two corpses, by pitch- 
ing them down into the serpent’s den, with a bitter fierceness that 
sent a chill through Maud, whose tender heart could never become 
hardened to scenes of blood, violence, or cruelty. 

We have said that our heroine had journeyed in the wrong direc- 
tion, but it afterward turned out that it was the safest one she could 
liave taken. This fact she learned from Livingston, who had found out 
that no one was allowed to enter Vicksburg on any of the common 
roads running North or South, excepting uniformed men. And to 
reach that rebel stronghold by the railroad from Jackson, required a 
pass from the military commander at the latter place. Thus it is 
quite likely that had Maud continued on in the original direction, she 
would have been discovered and arrested, or else lost most valuable 
time. The reason the rebels had adopted this course was, that Grant 
had been making some of his sweeping and mysterious movements 
on the other side of the river, and they feared his scouts or spies 
might gain access to the city, and gather information of which he 
might take the most signal and speedy advantage. 

Here was the first real difQ.culty our heroine had encountered in 
her present enterprise, and she was obliged to immediately summon 
all her invention and judgment to carry her through. Strange as it 
may seem, the first impulse that seized her, and with such strength 
that she could not banish it, was to rid herself of her companion^ 
Livingston ; not that she feared any intentional injury he might do 
her, for she firmly believed him to be as true as steel, and as honor- 
able as Honor itself. But he was too fierce and deadly in his ani- 
mosity to the enemy ; he scorned to be a spy because it was unmanly, - 
and depended entirely upon his own prowess to carry him through.' 
This was too contracted and useless a policy, and would most likely 
prove fatal to both in the plot that Maud was about to put into 
operation. As soon as she fixed the resolution in her mind, she put 
it promptly into execution, and soon persuaded Livingston to return 
to his home near Yazoo City, and, on some opportune occasion, 
attempt the destruction of the coal depot close by the town, which 
she herself had previously spared. This desperate enterprise exactly 
suited Livingston’s determined courage, and he forthwith undertook 
its execution, exacting, however, from Maud the promise that sh^ 


74 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


should be exceedingly cautimis, and not allow herself to be betrayed 
into any such adventure as he had so lately witnessed and partaken 
in. 

Our heroine smiled at the request, but promised all that was asked 
of her by her eccentric companion, and then, bidding him God-speed, 
hastened forward to Jackson. 

The reader must not suppose from the expression, that our fair 
heroine made directly for the city ; on the contrary, swerving from 
an Easterly course to one more North by East, she struck the Mem- 
phis and Jackson railroad just above Canton. In Canton she quickly 
made the acquaintance of a wealthy widow lady favorable to the old 
Union, and anxious to see the old flag once more floating in pride 
and triumph throughout aU the land. The ease with which Maud 
found out this lady, whose name, as she still resides in Canton, is 
prudentially suppressed, may appear strange. But in fact, it was 
one of little difficulty, owing to the knowledge the spy had of the 
information possessed by the negroes. 

This lady imparted to Maud many valuable facts in regard to the 
surest manner in which she could obtain the necessary passes, and 
accompanied her, herself, down to Jackson, where she introduced 
her to an aristocratic family of secessionists by the name of Kalston. 
To this family — the most attractive portion of which were two dark- 
eyed, handsome daughters — several of the Yicksburg officers, includ- 
ing General Pemberton himself, were frequent visitors, and but a 
day had passed before the Confederate Chieftain, accompanied by two 
of his staff, called upon the Kalstons. Maud Melville played her 
role with consummate ability, so much so, indeed, as to half pique 
the Misses Ralston, who expected to at least monopolize Pember- 
ton and his first officer. Of course one of the main topics touched 
on by the ladies was the threatened contest at Yicksburg, and the 
various offensive and resistive qualities of the stronghold were 
freely canvassed. Maud pretended the utmost terror of cannons, 
and avowed that nothing could induce her to be by when they were 
being discharged. As she had expected, this remark brought forth 
the vaunts of the Misses Ralston, as to their own intrepid firmness 
under such an ordeal of the nerves. Best of all, however, and just 
what she was longing for, it brought the following from General 
Pemberton, who did not attempt to conceal the liking he had taken 
for our heroine. 

''Now I am certain, Miss Melville,” he said, with a smiling suavity, 
''that were you to pass a day or two at Yicksburg, you would 


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Misa Maud Melville, better known as Miss Pauline D’Estraye, bidding General Grant farewell previous to her departure for Vicksburg. 






OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 85 

become so accustomed to the roaring of our pets, as we call them, 
that they would scarcely startle you from the softest slumber.” 

The speaker, half turning from Maud to the Misses Kalston, con- 
tinued in his most gallant manner : 

“Ladies, you must take a trip over to the city. We are to have 
some target practice, and a general overhauling of our works the day 
after to-morrow ; and if a shell or two is used, or a few solid shot 
are sent against some impudent Yankee craft, it will but add a zest 
to the entertainment. Come, what say you? You will not flinch, I 
know, as you have already been under ft re. Will you not make a 
veteran of our timid guest ?” 

No female, we think, ever possessed a nicer discrimination than 
Maud Melville, and she used her talent on the present occasion to 
most signal advantage. She begged and protested against the pro- 
posed trip in such a manner as to join all her companions, including 
the two staff officers and Mr. Ralston, in their persuasions. At last, 
at an opportune moment, she yielded at discretion, and it was de- 
cided that the ladies should accompany General Pemberton on his 
return to the fortifications, which event was fixed for the following 
day. The happiness of the Misses Ralston was malicious. They 
agreed that they would give our heroine — who they also agreed had 
made far too deep an impression on General Pemberton for their 
peace of mind — a journey through the forts that would make her 
brain reel. This satisfactory little plot they laid between themselves 
in the secrecy of their chamber, whilst Maud, at the self same time, 
was kneeling beside her couch, and praying devoutly to Heaven to 
be sustained in the hazardous undertaking before her. 

The Misses Ralston were ready at an early hour on the morrow 
for their excursion. In fact, they were ready to start some time 
before our heroine, whom they rallied considerably before they could 
induce her not to relinquish the trip. When General Pemberton 
arrived, the animosity of the two Southern belles was but deepened 
as he placed himself beside Maud, and gracefully turned them over 
to the attentions of his two staff officers. 

Without any incident of importance, if we except an alarm that 
grew out of the rumored advance of one of General Grant’s raiding 
columns to cut the railroad, the party arrived safely in the cele- 
brated stronghold of the Rebellion. Until the moment our heroine 
reached the first line of Rebel pickets, a strange apprehension, a 
heavineSvS, as it were, had oppressed her ; but, once within the mili- 
tary precincts of the city, all her prowess and spirit returned to her, 
and she became the most vivacious of the party. It was proposed 

i 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


by Miss K-ate Ealston, wbo was an expert equestrienne, as was also 
her sister, that horses should be furnished, and the intended inspec- 
tion made in the saddle. On seeing that the fair and timid Maud 
opposed not the proposition, General Pemberton seconded it at once. 
Whilst Kate, with sparkling eyes, was whispering to her sister con- 
cerning the intended triumph, for she doubted not Maud was as fear- 
ful of prancing steeds as she was of booming cannon, our heroine 
asked the General to allow her to ride the most intractable steed in 
his stables. 

Never fear, General,” she said, gaily, I can ride if I am afraid 
of your terrible guns,” 

The Eebel chieftain, though he was not quite sharp enough to see 
through General Grant’s plot, felicitated himself that he saw through 
Maud’s plot against her vain companions. So he arranged it that 
each lady should select her own steed. When it came to Maud’s 
turn, she chose an animal that an experienced groom assured her, not 
Only on his personal honor, but also on his reputation as a horseman, 
would break her neck as sure as she mounted him. But all to no 
purpose. Maud feared him not, and had him saddled and bridled, 
en operation which induced the fierce but noble brute to exhibit a 
few of his wicked qualities most advantageously. Ere mounting, 
however, Maud looked well to the bit and reins, and had both altered 
to suit her own ideas. Several efforts to gain the saddle were 
thwarted by the restiveness of the horse, but at last Maud was fairly 
seated. And now commenced a terrible struggle for the mastery, 
the termination of which no spectator dared to -determine. 

Like an Amazonian queen did Maud hold to her plunging throne, 
from which she could not be easily cast. The enraged animal reared 
until all eyes were closed to avoid beholding him topple over on his 
rider. He turned his head, and fiercely snapped at his fair burden ; 
but the instantly -drawn rein and terrible iron bit forced him to relin- 
quish the attempt. Finding that all his efforts were unavailing, he 
at last, and with the suddenness of a thunderbolt, dashed away 
toward the Mississippi in a maddened flight. The groom was 
delighted, and, amidst all the terror that others expressed in looks or 
wild exclamations, he said : 

‘'She’ll do. General! she’ll bring that young man back all 
rightj and docile as a thrashed puppy !’* 

This remark seemed to awaken the whole party as from a trance of 
horror, and they instantly gave chase. 

Now it was that the brilliant, daring mind of our heroic spy rose to 
sublimity. In the midst oi all the terror and excitement she was 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY, 


87 


creating, and witli her frantic steed shaking flakes of foam and blood 
fi'om his mouth, she, as cool as an iceberg, was keenly noting every- 
thing about her — the positions of stores, magazines, parks of artillery, 
ishell, shot, teams, batteries — taking in all at a glance. 

Suddenly, however, her attention was arrested by a short, thick-set 
dragoon, who, seeing her coming down toward him. planted himself 
directly in the path she must take, and drew a carbine to his shoul- 
der. This act alone amounted not to much, for perhaps his intention 
was to wound the runaway horse, and rescue the rider. But just as 
he raised the weapon, he thundered : 

*^A spy I a spyF 

** God aid me now I” prayed Maud, between her shut teeth, as, at 
the same instant, she recognized in the dragoon one of the two men who 
had pursued and taken her hack to Colonel Hemmings at Haines' Bluff I 
As she spoke almost, the dragoon sighted his piece directly at her 
breast, and pulled the trigger. The carbine failed of a discharge, 
however, and there being no time to reload before the flying steed 
would be upon him, the dragoon leaped to one side as a matter of 
personal safety. 

On that man’s death,” said Maud, when afterward narrating the 
incident to one of General Grant’s staff, felt that an issue de- 
pended of more value than my own life, and in an instant I deter- 
mined he should die I My flying animal was now too close to him 
to permit of a second* exercise of his agility, and drawing with all 
my strength on the left-hand rein, I swerved my rushing steed 
toward him. The man was at heart a coward ; for scarcely had 
he perceived my real intention, and seen, also, that he could not 
escape, than the blood left his features like a flash of light, and with a 
mute, imploring look of agony, he raised his hands and sank on his 
knees. It was too late, however, and, though my heart relented 
the moment, I could not alter his fate ; though it will ever be a satis- 
faction to me to know that I strained every nerve to avert the catas- 
trope. Poor, wretched coward, my furious steed charged down on 
him like an avalanche, and it seemed as though I could feel the shud- 
dering of his soul as it was crushed and spurned from his quivering 
body by the iron-shod feet of my horse. Oh I it was a sickening, 
horrible sensation, and, as God is my judge, I would rather have died 
a thousand deaths than have experienced it.* 

Maud’s maddened flight was not continued any distance after the 

* Perhaps some one of our readers has experienced this awfnl sensation spoken 
of hy our heroine, while riding in a carriage, or train of cars, over the bod/ of BOine 
human being. 


88 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


rebel dragoon was ridden down, for the horse, finding it useless to 
attempt to rid himself of his rider, slackened his pace, and surren- 
dered himself to the will of the latter. 

Our heroine immediately wheeled about, and rode back to the 
spot where lay the disfigured body of the man who had so ruthlessly 
endeavored to take her life. She reached it a moment after her 
companions did. Upon finding that the man was dead. General 
Pemberton’s staff officer ordered the corpse to be removed for burial. 

With this tragic incident the ride ended, the horses were put up, 
and while the ladies spent the rest of the day within doors. General 
Pemberton and his officials were busy with some alterations of 
batteries, that were necessary in consequence of some movement by 
General Grant, the character of which, however, Maud did not 
learn. 

These various indications of Grant’s activity made our heroine 
uneasy, lest by losing too much time she should fail in reaching the 
Federal Commander at a sufficiently early season to render her infor- 
mation of any value. She could only await circumstances, however, 
no matter what the result might be. 

As evening was drawing on, General Pemberton proposed a car- 
riage ride down the river bank, which his fair guests readily 
accepted, and none more willingly than Maud, for she could thereby 
eiyoy an unsuspected inspection of several highly important points. 

The weather was beautiful, rendering the scienery most enchanting, 
and the trip was very agreeable to all, but most especially to our 
heroine, who was, as may be supposed, innocently inquisitive about 
those “ horrid cannons,” and those “ deadly piles of missiles.” Com- 
pletely off his guard, the Rebel General took great pains to describe 
and explain everything to his lovely visitor, who took care to exhibit 
as commendable an ignorance of military matters as she did a naive 
curiosity concerning them. 

After a short time it was proposed by the Misses Ralston to 
ascend to the top of a high bluff, from which a fine view could be 
obtained of the river and surrounding country. The proposal was 
no sooner made than it was accepted. Upon reaching the summit of 
the bluff, Maud, separating herself from her companions, sauntered 
to a projecting knoll directly on the brow of the cliff, and strained 
her eyes far away up the opposite bank, in hopes of being able to 
discover the Federal army, or a portion of it. As she sat there 
wholly absorbed in thought, she presented a lovely appearance. The 
breeze was now and then lifting her long tresses — the only ornament 
in which was a single natural flower — lightly off her white, rounded 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S BPY. 


89 : 


neck and shoulders, displaying the fullest charms of the latter 
allowed by the modestly cut boddice. Maud’s dress consisted simply 
of a pale, rich silk, without trimmings, and a long mantle or duster 
of the same material. This plain attire, though it at once set off our 
heroine’s peculiar beauty to the greatest advantage, afforded a striking 
contrast to that of her companions, whose jewelry alone was worth 
a small fortune. 

So intensely was Maud’s attention fixed on the distant landscape, 
that she did not note the rapid sinking of the sun, nor the lengthen- 
ing shadows of approaching night. In truth she had fallen into a 
sort of reverie, from which she was only startled by the dull, distant 
rumble of a very heavy gun, which, from the rounded or blunted 
sound, her experienced ear at once recognized as having been fired 
from aboard a ship. 

[This difference of sound between a piece discharged from the deck 
of a vessel and a piece in land battery, is very distinct.] 

Maud was not the only one startled, however, by the distant roar, 
for, as she was wondering what could have been the reason thereof, 
General Pemberton approached and informed her that the ladies and 
himself were about to return to the city. His manner was as cour- 
teous and affable as before, but Maud easily discovered a deep anxiety 
on his mind. She at once acquiesced, and the party were soon driv- 
ing back at a good speed. 

Perhaps, General,” remarked Miss Kate Ealston, in the course of 
the conversation that ensued, ‘‘ that explosion was a signal for tho 
horrid Yankee fleet to advance and attack your stronghold.” 

' ‘‘ In which event,” replied Pemberton, the fate of that fleet would 
be sealed for ever.” 

‘^Surely, General, you would Have some mercy,” said Maud, with 
a half-mischievous smile, at least whilst I am in the city, for I 
should certainly die from sheer fright.” 

I would issue a special order for your benefit. Miss Melville,” 
laughed Pemberton ; but believe me you would not only not expire, 
but you would, on the contrary, become so fascinated with the 
excitement attending a cannonade, that you would not retire to 
safety even if I should myself request it. I am somewhat versed 
in human character, and I am certain you are possessed of most 
extraordinary coolness and bravery. Do you know. Miss Melville,” 
continued the speaker, ** you would make a capital spy 

It took all our heroine’s power to control the feelings that this 
remark brought to life within her, but she succeeded, and shortly 
afterward turned the conversation in another channeL 


^0 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI; 


CHAPTER IX. 

MAUD HEARS OF BLUE BEN".” 

For several days past it had been suspected that Admiral Porter 
intended to endeavor to push his gunboats and transports past the 
Yicksburg batteries ; and as, of course, night would be the selected 
time for such a desperate venture, General Pemberton had prepared 
huge piles of light wood and other combustibles, which were ready 
to be fired at the first alarm, and with their flames illuminate the 
river, in order that the rebel gunners might see the Federal vessels, 
and range their pieces correctly. 

The night passed without an alarm, however, and early the suc- 
ceeding morning commenced the grand target practice and general 
overhauling that the Rebel commander had spoken of to Maud. 
Our heroine was exceedingly and most judiciously nervous at first ; 
but presently she began to recover, and so rapidly, indeed, as to 
elicit a compliment from General Pemberton. 

In the midst of the inspection, an urgent message came for the 
Rebel commander’s attention somewhere else, and he was obliged to 
leave his fair visitors in charge of an aid, whose vanity and desire to 
display his military lore, led him to detail the minutest matters in 
regard to the guns and fortifications, and the manner and time in 
which each would be used in case of an attack. 

When our daring spy had gathered all the information that it was 
possible to obtain, she became anxious to return to General Grant. 
From what she had heard within the past week, she was satisfied 
that the Federal commander had relinquished his plan of attack by 
the North and North-east routes, in which case there was only the 
Southern approach left. To use this, his army must pass below 
Yicksburg, either by marching down on the opposite bank, or by 
risking a passage in the transports. There was one thing, in this 
view of the situation, that Maud felt she ought to do, and that was 
to go over several of the most likely roads of approach to Yicksburg, 
from the direction of Grand Gulf, in order that she might be enabled 
to properly guide any column or columns of troops that might ajd- 
vance on them. 

It was no easy task, however, to leave her admiring friends, or 
rattier, we should say, friend, for the two Miss Ralstons would have 
been delighted to see her depart, whereas General Pemberton was so 


OR, GENERAL GRANT’S SPY. 


91 


smitten with, her that he would scarcely listen to her going away. 
Besides, he* told her, he felt well assured that General Grant would 
soon make an approach on the city from that direction ; that already 
there were some signs of such a movement in the enemy’s camps; 
and that for a beautiful Southern lady to fall into the hands of the 
vile Yankees would be a fate worse than death. 

Whilst Pemberton was endeavoring to persuade Maud to remain a 
few days longer, a post- messenger arrived from Colonel Williams — 
the successor of Colonel Hemmings — to announce that the immense 
depot of coal at Yazoo City had been almost totally destroyed by 
fire, which had been applied by a traitor named Livingston, better 
known by the soubriquet of ‘‘Blue Ben.” He was seen lurking 
about the depot as the fire burst forth. When he started to escape, 
a volley was fired after him, and he was seen to faU. As his body 
could not be found, however, it was supposed that, instead of being 
killed, he had been mortally wounded, and crawling away to some 
thicket, had there died. Colonel Williams added that his men — 
the rebels — were so enraged at the base incendiary that they went 
immediately to a cabin he inhabited, where, finding an old negress 
who refused to confess any knowledge of her master, they promptly 
hung her to a rafter of the building, fired the latter, and waited till 
naught was left but a smouldering heap of ruins. 

“The worst feature of this affair,” added Williams, “is that it 
prevents the naval movement which we intended to make down the 
Yazoo within two days upon the Federal fleet. And how long it 
will be before we can make another attempt, the Lord only knows.” 

General Pemberton had met with several disasters lately, and this 
last one appeared to fall so heavily upon him as to considerably 
crush even his gallantry, and he ceased to urge a continuance of the 
visit of his lady guests. 

This was exactly as Maud wished it ; but still she was careful, on 
bidding the rebel chieftain adieu, to be more than usually fascinating. 

Upon leaving Yiclcsburg, it became our heroine’s great object to 
get clear of the company of her companions, the Misses Ealston, 
without exciting their suspicions. This she soon effected, however, 
and then she set forward to accomplish the last portion of her pro- 
gramme, or to meet the same fate as she knew had befallen the rash 
but brave Livingston. 

The triangle of country included between lines run from Vicks- 
burg, Jackson, and Grand Gulf, or Eodney, may, and doubtless does, 
appear on the map to be a diminutive space, and easily gone over ; 
but, when it is remembered that this diminutive space is intersected 


92 


MAUD OF THE MISSISSIPPI: 


by important roads and streams; each of which was, at the period of 
which we write, under at least occasional guard, the time and tact 
required to obtain correct and reliable information thereof may be 
partially imagined. Yet the risks incurred and the hardships 
endured by. our heroine in accomplishing this object cannot be 
even imagined. 

She was at last successful, however, and arrived in safety, but 
much worn in mind and body, at the spot in which she had concealed 
her boat, which, to add to her satisfaction, she found uninjured and 
ready for use. 

It has been truly observed of General Grant that, from the very 
first moment of having a command, he has invariably been lucky ; 
and this favor seems to have been accorded by Fortune to every one 
connected with the hero of the Mississippi. 

Maud Melville, while making her way through the region of 
country mentioned, had, on several occasions, heard cannonading in 
the direction of the river, and had heard reports as to the Union 
vessels running the batteries, and again of their being all sunk. In 
fact, a thousand different and bewildering rumors came continually 
to her ears. But,, making every allowance for exaggeration, she did 
expect, when she struck the Mississippi at the point she ^id, to see 
at least one or two Union gunboats. As far as she could see, how- 
ever, she beheld nothing breaking the surface of the mighty river 
save the occasional floating trees, or now and them a barrel, a box, 
or the dead carcass of some animal. 

As night approached, a strong wind from the Southward set in, 
with a tendency to chop about from South-east to South-west. Our 
daring heroine determined to take advantage of this, and sail up the 
river, pass Vicksburg a second time, and, if possible, communicate 
with General Grant. No one not acquainted with the Mississippi 
river can conceive of the peril of such an undertaking, on such a 
night. A staunch, powerful steamer would, in nine chances out of ten, 
be sunk in such an attempt ; and therefore the chances of escape for a 
frail, open skiff, under sail, were apparently none at all. But when 
anxiety and duty control the human mind, there, is naught it will not 
essay to do. 

It was about eight o’clock, P. M., that Maud Melville stepped into 
her frail craft, and pushed it out from the bank upon the rushing 
eurrent. It was whirled round in several eddies before it came 
fairly under control, and then, catching the full force of the wind, it 
shot up stream like a frightened bird. 

No cheering multitude encouraged the intrepid girl with plaudits. 


OR, GENERAL GRANT^S SPY. 


There, in the darkness of the night, and all alone, she was battling 
the angry river, with none to place hope in save Him whose habi- 
tation was far beyond those glistening stars above her. 

The perilous voyage became more and more fearful every moment. 
The wind increased in strength, and heavy clouds began to drift up 
from the hori^n over the sky, shutting out even the encouragement 
of the starlight, while the river rushed along with more fury than 
before. Our heroine’s situation was indeed becoming most des- 
perate. 

^^It was,” she afterward said, **the most fearful scene through 
which I ever passed. The sky quickly became one inky mass, 
through which the most awful lightning and thunder continually 
broke. But still I pressed on, for I could •do nothing else. 

*‘I was now passing Vicksburg, as I could see the glimmering of 
lights in the city and batteries, and I almost wished myself safely 
ensconced with the rebels once more. 

‘^In the midst of this turmoil, however, a new event occurred. 
Out on the river I suddenly saw two streams of flame and 
sparks, which. I instantly knew must proceed from the smoke- 
stack of a steamer, and I was at once forced to the conclusion that 
one of ^he Federal vessels was attempting to pass the batteries. 
Scarcely had I made this discovery ere a fresh thunder broke on my 
ears. Flash went a rebel gun, and through the black darkness above 
me screeched a huge shell, that exploded astern of the steamer. A 
few moments later, one of the piles of combustibles prepared by 
Pemberton sent out a glaring flame across the river, and a second 
gun, this time from the heavy water battery, belched forth a huge 
miiile at the vessel. This one struck its mark, but I had not time 
to note more, for a volley of musket balls that whistled about me, 
warned me that my boat had been seen by the rebels, and was within 
their range. By the time a second volley was fired, however, the 
fierce, but now friendly wind, had carried me out of reach. At this 
juncture the rain poured down in torrents, dampening the rebel fire, 
while the steamer, either sinking, or shutting off steam, sent out no 
more tell-tale sparks. .. 

The storm presently began to abate, and I headed my frail but 
faithful boat over toward the Louisiana shore, which, Heaven ever 
be praised for its mercy, I reached safely, though well-nigh exhausted, 
just below Milliken’s Bend. My first care was to dismantle and 
conceal the little craft, and then I calmly awaited the coming of day- 
light. When the sun rose I set out, confident of soon meeting some 
cavalry detachment of General Grant’s army.’* 


94 


HAUD OF THE MlSSISSIPPr: 


The surmise of our heroine was correct, for liad not gon^^ far 
before she fell in with a scouting party. The officer in command of 
the latter was evidently nonplussed to account for her presence in 
such a locality, and in such an evidently exhausted and sorry con- 
dition, for the tempest and the muddy roads had sadly spoiled her 
toilet Her natural loveliness, however, and her refinement of man- 
ner, at once enlisted the sympathies of the susceptible and dashing 
officer, who did everything in hi^ power to render her comfortable, 
most especially as she expressed such a strong desire to see General 
Grant at once. Personally he knew nothing of the whereabouts of 
the Union Chief, but promised before long to put Maud in the right 
channel for finding him. 

This he presently did, and, after various vexatious delays, our 
heroine at last had the supreme satisfaction of greeting General 
Grant in person. The gallant hero was much gratified at seeing 
our heroine safely returned, and was delighted with the copious ami 
highly valuable information she brought him. 

The anxiety, excitement, and exposure which Maud had endured 
while among the rebels, combined now to debilitate her system, and 
rest became absolutely necessary to a restoration of her powers. 
By the time General Grant really made his grand advance on Yieks- 
burg, however, she was fully recovered, and accompanied the victo- 
rious Army of the Union on its memorable march. 

The details of how the indomitable hero of the Mississippi, ably 
seconded. as he was at every turn, by the equally indomitable Porter, 
made his way from Young’s Point past the Vicksburg and Grand 
Gulf batteries, have already become so familiar to the reader, that 
ft is entirely unnecessary to repeat them here.^ Suffice it to say, that 
by the end of April, 1863, the bright flag of the Union was being 
borne proudly and triumphantly toward the doomed city, by the 
gallant Army of the Tennessee,* 


• The gallant army of which General Grant was Commander holds the official title 
of The Army of the Tennessee.” The Army of the Mississippi would be much 
more appropriate, and tally better with the grand achievements of that noble 


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Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing Agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: 

MAR 1996 

Bbbkreeper 

PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 
1114 William Rinn Highway 
Glenshaw, PA 15116-2657 
412-486-1161 








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